Kish is a 91.5 square kilometer (35.3 sq. mi) resort island and it is considered as one of the Persian Gulf islands and tourist sites of Hormozgan Province that is located 18 km (12 mi) from mainland Iran’s south shore with the altitude of 30 meters above the sea level in the north range of the Persian Gulf. Kish enjoys a warm and humid climate but has low rainfall in general. Due to its free trade zone status it is touted as a consumer's paradise with numerous malls, shopping centers, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. About 1.5 million people visit the island annually. Kish Island was ranked among the world’s 10 most beautiful islands by The New York Times in 2010, and is the fourth most visited vacation destination in Southwest Asia.
