Date: 5/8/04
British Persian Media
Qeshm, the largest island in the Persian Gulf is located on the southern coast of Iran and north of the Straight of Hormuz. It is within 220 Km. of UAE and is in the vicinity of oil rich countries, it is near international waters and accessible by commercial shipping. So far, there are many reputable American, Asian and European companies conducting business beside their Iranian counterparts within Qeshm.
As it is the Qeshm Free Area, no visas are required to visit Qeshm for almost any nationality. It can be reached in 15 minutes by plane and 30 minutes by boat from Dubai.
The island's hotels, restaurants, cultural centres, sports complex, and recreational facilities (including scuba diving) are all recently developed and ready for tourists. There are also 12 shopping complexes and 2 traditional bazaars as an ideal place for shopping.
As a former colonial outpost, the Qeshm Free Area, also has a colonial tradition and monuments. The Portuguese built a castle in the east of Qeshm during their occupation, and the island came under the sway of the Dutch, the East India Company, the French, Germans and the British in turn, and it was only brought back firmly into Iran shortly after World War I.
The rich abundance of birds and marine life make Qeshm a place of unique unspoilt beauty. A superb destination for scuba diving and the nature enthusiast.
Traditional ways of life/culture are maintained throughout the islands native population. |