FINE URBAN SYMBOLS: AXIS OF MARINE AND COASTAL TOURISM COMPLEX

Almost all of big coastal cities in the world have an urban symbol that travelers and tourists take photos in front of them, actually these symbols are the kind ofidentity certificate for a city and the subject of memorable photos. As well several hectares of land are allocated to tourism purposes and numerous facilities areintegrated as various tourism complexes around these urban symbols. So that travelers and tourists can have leisure time for a week. Tourist facilities such as marinemuseums, seasonal and non-seasonal exhibitions, swimming pools, aquariums, dolphinariums, movie theaters, amphitheaters, conference halls, sport fields,cafes, restaurants, wide green space, modern amusement parks, play grounds, department stores, shopping centers, etc. moreover, there is the possibility for theindividuals to be inside and on top of urban symbols in such a way that they can get picturesque views of the sea and the city from a high elevation. In fact, another majoradvantage of an urban symbol, in addition to introducing an identity certificate for a city, is that it turns in to a tourist attraction. For example, Eiffel tower in Paris andMilad tower in Iran. In Arab states of the Persian Gulf there are well-known and magnificent symbols such as Arab tower, Khalifa tower and many other symbols. Ofcourse the meaning of an urban symbol is not just a tower, it can have different shapes and forms such as Opera House in Australia, Atomium structure in Belgium, Jesus statue in Brazil, Statue of Liberty in the United states. Unfortunately, there is not any fine urban symbol in dozens of big and populated cities and towns on the 5800 km coast line of Iran. Not only is not fine or high rise urban symbol, but you will not find a typical building over fifty meters in any coastal city. The most important characteristics of an urban symbolcan be summarized as follows: 1) It is high and huge so that it can be seen within a few kilometers 2) It has a unique shape and form in Iran and the world 3) It is adjacent to the sea or in a high place which overlooks the sea or the city 4) It has enough space to collect tourism facilities. In this case, the following advantages can be considered as the advantages of the placement of urban symbols in a city: 1) To create a certain and unique identity certificate for a city. 2) To create tourist attraction. 3) To have significant increase of city income byconstructing tourist complexes and various service centers and department stores. 4) To create the subject of photography, advertising of a city or country. 5) To establish open tourism area around an urban symbol and to create a tourism center. 6) To provide tourism facilities on top of urban symbols and to have a great view.7) The possibility of having telecommunication facilities on the top an urban symbol. 8) To create self-esteem and engineering ability and knowledge.9) To have a place to hold local, national and international events. Unfortunately, none of coastal cities of northern and southern Iran have an urban symbol as a touristattraction. What urban symbol should be shot to differentiate between travelling to the southern and northern cities (such as Babol, Khoramshahr, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas, …) The lack of attention to the construction of fine structures in coastal cities especially in south of country has caused most of these cities to look poor and deprived. Even Kish Island, which has the bulk of coastal tourism investment, does not have a modern urban symbol but an old sunken ship is a symbol of the city.