SANANDAJ - Experts in cultural heritage industry believe local officials and people should take the opportunity of inscription of Uraman region on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO as an important chance to improve tourism and economy of the area, while paying attention to the challenges ahead.
The Iranian Kurdish people are very happy that the World Heritage Committee accepted the inclusion of Uraman on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 44th session in China on July 27.
The landscape and lifestyle of the Uraman region, including eye-catching villages, old traditions, unique music, clothing and nomadic living styles are among attractions, which can be interesting for Iranian and foreign tourists to visit the ancient area.
Uraman or Huraman is a mountainous region located in two provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah in western Iran.
Steep-slope architecture, gardening on stone terraces, livestock breeding, and seasonal vertical migration are among the unique features of the culture and lifestyle of the Kurdish people in the region.
While observers and people are paying attention to positive outcomes of the registration among world heritage sites, some experts warn about cultural and environmental threats of such an important development, which needs more awareness.
Muhammad-Ali Soltani, a researcher and university professor, told IRNA that establishing tourism infrastructures in Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces is necessary, adding that standard roads and special vehicles, as well as enough hotels, are needed to pave the way for the expansion of the tourism industry.
Uraman region needs to be run by a policy-making council, including religious scholars, university professors, provincial representatives, governors, local councils as well as elite and experts in order to form specialized committees to follow up issues concerning the international registration, he added.
The UNESCO seeks to find extraordinary options that are available in the Uraman region, he said, noting that unique historical, literal, artistic, musical, traditional and religious attractions have been seen in the region for many years.
There are archives of religions, sects, traditions as well as historical and ancient rituals, which are unique, he argued.
However, the boom of the tourism industry without proper preparations and programs will endanger the culture of Uraman residents, he warned, saying that the people of the region should be trained to be well aware of their duties and rights particularly when it comes to the involvement of non-native investors in the tourism industry of the historical site.
The region requires multi-lingual radio and press as well as other media to inform the people of the importance of environment conservation to avoid irreparable losses in the future, Soltani mentioned.
According to archaeological studies, the Uraman region dates back to the Middle Paleolithic period, which is around 40 thousand years ago. The findings of the region include stone tools, which were made by Neanderthals or Early Modern Humans.
Kurdistan province possesses 1,524 historical monuments, including caves, old trees, subterranean canals, and natural sites.