Iranian islands of Persian Gulf (11)

Kish Island which covers an area of 91.5 square kilometers is engulfed in the pristine waters of the Persian Gulf; and is known as one of the exemplary and unique tourist destinations in Iran and across the region.

This tiny Island is host to 1.7 million Iranian and foreign tourists per annum. Today, we continue to discuss this Island's tourism attraction sites.

The International Kish Island Airport is the third busiest airport in the domain of domestic flights in Iran after Tehran's Mehrabad and Mashhad Airports. Based on released statistical figures, throughout late March 2017, the domestic and foreign flights arriving at, or departing Kish Airport, and the Iranian and foreign passengers in this international airport respectively rose by 1.5% and 24%, in numbers, compared to the same period in the preceding year.

Furthermore, the number of passengers arriving at Kish Island via maritime entries has increased every year. In average, roughly 350,000 passengers arrive at Kish Island by sea, per annum. Meanwhile, the passengers who like to travel to Kish Island with their personal vehicles, can do so via boarding vessels which are especially designed for carriage of passengers and vehicles.

In order to develop the tourism industry in Kish Island, and to create appropriate opportunities for tourists in visiting the intact nature and beautiful coastlines of this island, recreational tours have been organized every night via the usage of a number of luxurious yachts. A pier constructed in this Island has provided the means for the operation of touristic vessels in Kish. This pier which stretches over 400 meters in length, in addition to creation of an appropriate atmosphere for strolling, has paved the way for employment of recreational vessels. Upon boarding these vessels, the passengers can closely view underwater scenes.

Kish Island has been popularly known as the pearl of the Persian Gulf. Due to its especial and unique features, this Island has turned into one of the most important economic and cultural poles of Iran. The selection of this Island as a free economic zone and its God-given scenic landscapes, has turned Kish into one of the main tourist destinations, hosting scores of domestic and foreign travelers every year, as well as young jobseekers. Roughly 95% of the residents of this island are migrants, who have arrived at Kish, seeking jobs, with the remaining 5% consisting of locals. Based on the estimations of the economic department of Kish Free Zone, tourists visiting this island will reach two million, in numbers, by the year 2021. The service sector has provided the highest number of jobs in this island.

Kish Island's markets have highly contributed to the promotion of economy in this island. These glittering markets are visited by tourists all year long. The shop owners of these markets consist of all Iranian ethnicities such as Turks, Fars, Kurds, and Baluch. Moreover, Chinese workers can be spotted in this island's burgeoning marketplaces. Kish markets are highly attractive for tourists, because of showcasing and selling original foreign goods and items. This island maintains fifteen international markets, in addition to several shopping centers.

One of the attractions of this island is its numerous modern hotels and residential units which host Iranian and foreign travelers all year long. For instance, one of the hotels of this island is situated over the pristine waters of Persian Gulf. This hotel is situated northwest of the Island of Kish, engulfed by the waters of Persian Gulf.

The managers of this hotel believe that passengers are in fact the guests of nature, and have therefore made utmost efforts to create an environment-friendly hotel. All of the hundred suites of this hotel maintain glass-made see-through floors via which guests find the opportunity to view Persian Gulf waters, first hand.

It should be noted that this hotel is situated northwest of this island, because the level of water is uniform in this region up to a one-kilometer distance from the island.

The ample capacities of Kish Island are of significant importance for potential investments. Focus on these capacities can bring about huge profits for Iran.

For example, purchasing sprees are one of the main attractions of this island for passengers. Kish is the first and one of the most important zones among the seven free trade zones of Iran, which was launched in the 1990s for attraction of investments and assistance to import of consuming goods. Currently, Kish Island is home to dozens of modern hotels and shopping centers. Presence of over 8500 small guild units in seven industrial townships, more than fifty hotels with 4,088 rooms and roughly 11,000 beds, as well as numerous restaurants are some of the manifestations of the boosting economy of this island.

Kish Island is also an appropriate location for investment in medical tourism. Construction of two well-equipped hospitals in this island, and recruitment of a number of skilled plastic surgeons can help boost medical tourism in this island. Furthermore, dozens of five-star luxurious hotels are under construction in Kish Island, a bid to attract 2.5 million tourists per annum within the next decade.

MR/EA