TEHRAN -- The archaeological heritage of southeastern Iran is being drawn into a new model of tourism development, as officials in Jiroft seek to combine digital technologies with the region’s distinctive cultural and environmental resources. 
Two initiatives—a virtual archaeology museum and an artificial-intelligence-based tourism assistant—were presented at a meeting of the county’s tourism working group, marking a proposed shift towards digitally mediated heritage interpretation and visitor services.
Situated in the Halil Rud valley of Kerman Province, Jiroft is internationally associated with archaeological discoveries at Konar Sandal.
Excavations and investigations have revealed evidence of substantial Early Bronze Age settlement, specialized craft production and participation in long-distance exchange networks. 
These discoveries have made the region important to debates concerning urbanization and the development of complex societies in southwestern Asia. 
Although local officials describe Jiroft’s heritage as a seven-thousand-year-old civilization, this broad chronological claim requires further archaeological qualification: the principal urban evidence from Konar Sandal relates to the third millennium BC.  
The first initiative, the Virtual Archaeological Museum of Jiroft, was reportedly developed through cooperation between the local cultural heritage administration
 and the non-governmental organization Safiran-e Elm va Danesh (Ambassadors of Science and Knowledge). 
Its stated purpose is to broaden access to archaeological collections through digital presentation and interactive interpretation. 
If supported by accurate documentation, contextual information and reliable digital models, such a platform could help audiences encounter material culture beyond the geographical and practical constraints of conventional museum displays.
The second initiative, an AI-based assistant for tourism accommodation providers, is intended to improve communication with visitors and support hospitality services. 
According to the meeting report, the tool forms part of a wider ambition to modernize accommodation facilities and make the visitor experience more responsive to contemporary expectations. 
However, the precise technical capabilities of both initiatives, including their use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality or three-dimensional reconstruction, were not independently established in the available sources.
Mahmoud Salari, deputy for planning and management development to the governor of Jiroft, argued that digital technologies could help communicate the region’s history to domestic and international audiences. 
He also emphasized the cultural responsibilities of accommodation providers, describing hosts as interpreters of a region’s identity rather than simply suppliers of beds and meals.
The meeting also highlighted the relationship between tourism development and local economic resilience. Officials referred to potential support from the Barakat Foundation and Alavi Foundation for upgrading accommodation infrastructure, particularly rural eco-lodges. 
Meanwhile, Kamaleddin Zia Kamali, head of Jiroft’s Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, called for closer cooperation between public authorities, private businesses and media organizations.
At the provincial level, Muhammad Afsharipour of the Kerman Chamber of Commerce’s tourism and handicrafts commission stressed the need for coordinated itineraries, stronger links with tour operators and longer visitor stays.
Jiroft’s emerging strategy therefore extends beyond the digitization of archaeological objects. Its success will depend on integrating credible archaeological interpretation with accessible technology, conservation priorities and locally beneficial tourism. 
Digital platforms may increase the visibility of the region’s heritage; sustained research, responsible presentation and effective regional cooperation will determine whether that visibility translates into durable cultural and economic gains.