The historic village of Esfahak in Dehestak District, Tabas County, South Khorasan Province, has been selected as one of the best tourism villages in the world for 2024.
Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, announced the inclusion of Esfahak Village in South Khorasan as one of the best tourism villages by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2024.
After Kandovan Village in East Azerbaijan Province, Esfahak becomes the second global tourism village in Iran. Esfahak is also the 10th globally registered heritage site in South Khorasan.
Esfahak, which was severely damaged by the 1978 Tabas earthquake, was once uninhabitable, and its residents lived in temporary tents. As rebuilding began, they constructed temporary wooden houses, known as Otagh-e Choobi (Wooden Room).
Since 2021, the UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages Initiative has aimed to promote sustainable tourism in rural areas, focusing on preserving natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and local lifestyles, such as culinary traditions and local values.
