In spite of the economic benefits of ecotourism, low-interest loans to help develop infrastructure in the sector in North Khorasan Province have met with poor response. Qadir Afzoun, tourism deputy at the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department, said Mehr-e Omid Fund has been offering low-interest loans to villagers to capitalize on the natural attractions of rural areas, ISNA reported. “But the loan offer has not been received as well as we had hoped,” he said, adding that travel agencies can also apply for the loans. Afzoun blamed lack of awareness about the potential of ecotourism for the problem and called for better promotion of the benefits of the thriving tourism sector.
