Published on
September 6, 2025
The prospective travel boom to Khoy, Iran, and particularly to its mausoleum of the famous Shams Tabrizi, is predicted to rise and benefit from Iran-Turkey tourism partnership. Everything from better infrastructure to closer ties between countries is going to enhance the number of tourists to Khoy possessing an interest in cultural activities, Sufism, and Persian literature, as pointed out by the tourism expert, Mohammad Rezaei.
While both countries co-develop Khoy’s tourism facilities, this city may rise to cultural prominence as the focal point of the heritage of Shams Tabrizi’s and his Rumi’s relationship.
Khoy and the Legacy of Shams Tabrizi
Khoy, a city located in Iran’s West Azarbaijan province, has long been an important crossroads of culture, commerce, and spirituality. The city is home to the mausoleum of Shams Tabrizi, a revered Persian mystic and mentor to the famous poet Rumi. Shams Tabrizi’s teachings played a pivotal role in shaping Rumi’s philosophy, making the mausoleum a significant pilgrimage site for those interested in Sufism and Persian mystical literature.
Shams Tabrizi, who lived between 1185 and 1248, remains a central figure in the development of Sufism in the Persian world. His influence on Rumi, with whom he spent 40 days in seclusion in Konya, Turkey, is immortalized in Rumi’s poetic work, Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. However, Shams Tabrizi’s impact extends beyond Iran’s borders, especially in Turkey, where his teachings continue to inspire spiritual seekers.
Potential for Joint Iran-Turkey Tourism Initiatives
The recent call for greater Iran-Turkey cooperation in tourism development, specifically around Shams Tabrizi’s mausoleum, could see a significant rise in international visitors to Khoy. Rezaei suggests that joint tourism packages and closer ties with Turkish cities like Van and Konya, where Shams Tabrizi’s legacy is also celebrated, could promote Khoy as an integral part of the Shams-Rumi cultural route.
Turkey is already a popular destination for spiritual tourism, particularly with its annual influx of visitors to Konya, the city where Shams and Rumi’s spiritual journey flourished. By integrating Khoy into this route, Turkish tourists, who often travel to Konya for the Mevlevi Sufi order’s Whirling Dervishes festival, could easily include a stop in Khoy, enriching their journey with a deeper understanding of the mystical relationship between Shams and Rumi.
The Shams-Rumi Cultural Route: Connecting Khoy, Van, and Konya
Rezaei proposes creating a Shams-Rumi cultural route linking Khoy, Van, and Konya, forming a continuous journey that traces the paths of these two important figures in Sufism and Persian poetry. This route would not only boost tourism in the region but also create a shared tourism brand between Iran and Turkey, highlighting the historical, cultural, and spiritual ties that bind the two nations.
The creation of this route would involve joint marketing efforts between Iranian and Turkish tourism authorities, offering a seamless travel experience for visitors interested in Sufism, poetry, and cultural history. Rezaei suggests that this route could be marketed as an integrated package for travelers, including combined tours of Khoy, Van, and Konya, with a focus on historical landmarks, cultural sites, and spiritual experiences.
Economic Impact and Local Development Opportunities
Tourism focused on Shams Tabrizi’s mausoleum could have a profound economic impact on Khoy and the surrounding areas. Local communities would benefit from increased visitor numbers, which would, in turn, generate job opportunities in ecotourism, handicrafts, and local services. The infrastructure improvements needed to support increased tourism—such as enhanced roads, better visitor services, and multilingual signage—would contribute to the overall development of the city.
In particular, local artisans could see an uptick in demand for their handicrafts, as tourists often seek souvenirs to remember their journey. Cultural tourism also offers the potential for collaborations between local businesses, restaurants, and hotels, fostering the growth of Khoy’s tourism economy.
Enhancing Visitor Services and Accessibility
To support the influx of international tourists, Rezaei advocates for improvements in visitor services around the mausoleum and throughout Khoy. Key recommendations include multilingual signage, foreign-language tour guides, and the creation of an annual Shams commemoration event. These efforts would enhance the experience for visitors, making it easier for non-Farsi-speaking travelers to connect with the cultural and historical significance of Shams Tabrizi.
Moreover, visitor infrastructure such as tourist information centers, public restrooms, and public transport options should be developed to ensure that visitors feel comfortable and well-catered for throughout their trip. Improved transport connectivity between Khoy and nearby cities, such as Van and Konya, would also make the destination more accessible to international tourists.
Cultural and Educational Exchanges Between Iran and Turkey
In addition to the proposed tourism initiatives, Rezaei emphasizes the importance of cultural exchange between Iranian and Turkish universities. This would deepen cultural cooperation between the two countries, fostering academic dialogue on Sufism, Persian literature, and mysticism. These exchanges could include workshops, lectures, and academic conferences on Shams Tabrizi and Rumi, further cementing Khoy’s reputation as a center of Sufi scholarship.
The Future of Spiritual and Cultural Tourism in Khoy
The development of Khoy as a spiritual and cultural tourism hub could have far-reaching benefits for the region. By linking Khoy with Turkey’s spiritual heritage, the city could establish itself as a major destination for travelers interested in Sufism, Persian literature, and mystical traditions. Through strategic partnerships, enhanced infrastructure, and a focus on cultural preservation, Khoy could attract visitors from all over the world, enriching both its economy and cultural heritage.
As Rezaei concludes, “The real potential lies in bringing Shams Tabrizi’s legacy to life for visitors, creating an enriching cultural experience that draws from both Iran and Turkey’s shared history. This collaboration will elevate Khoy’s status as an essential destination for those exploring Sufi mysticism and the poetic legacy of Rumi and Shams Tabrizi.”
A New Era for Khoy and Spiritual Tourism
Cooperation with Iran and the construction of infrastructure for the tourists visiting and the mausoleum of Shams Tabrizi in Khoy marks a new page of cultural cooperation with cross borders. Thanks to the construction of the Shams-Rumi cultural route and the deepening of the local infrastructure and the service provided to the visitors, Khoy will be a forerunner in cultural and spiritual tourism of the region. This venture will forge new ties for the travelers to the local hosts and the rich spiritual culture of the two countries which will benefit the tourism for both sides.
