Bari is the name of a village on the shores of Urmia Lake, 40km off Urmia en route to Salmas. The idea of building a tourism spot by the lake has been on the minds of the founders for many years. Lake Urmia is the second largest salt lake of the world after the Dead Sea, and a brief look at the existing facilities in the area privileged to have such unique natural wonder reveals the negligence in utilizing the available natural resources. It was a powerful incentive for the founders to contemplate an establishment which could offer a complete package of cultural, sports, therapy, accommodation and convenience facilities to all those who appreciate the merits of the Lake Urmia water.  

The construction project for the Bari Tourist Resort kicked off in 1997. After the completion of the preliminary steps such as road construction and groundwork, the first phase of the project turned operational in 2003. The project will ultimately produce a world standard tourist village with exceptional therapy facilities such as advanced, equipped water therapy centers using mineral springs (Spa), mud therapy, salt therapy, massage therapy, physiotherapy, consulting centers for rheumatology and joint and bone problems, perfectly outfitted beaches and pools, and mineral and salt water pools for patients who would like to benefit from the positive ions of the water.

Presently, the operational part of the Tourist Resort offers the projected facilities of the final establishment at a smaller scale, including hotel and residential facilities (a five star hotel, private villas and suites), food service facilities (banquette halls, restaurants and traditional dining halls), sports facilities (swimming pool, bowling alley, billiard room, bicycle trail, riding manège, rowing and water sports, shooting, trap shooting, etc.) and therapy facilities (beaches, Jacuzzis, lake water pools, fresh water pools, etc.)