Familiarizing the local populace with other cultures and educating them in the basics of hospitality is imperative to developing local tourism, a senior Gilan Province tourism official told ISNA. Pointing to the economic benefits of tourism, Reza Alizadeh, director of the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said Gilan can reap the benefits if it knows how to cater to different people’s needs during their stay in the northern picturesque province. “Rural tourism can only blossom when locals and officials join forces to improve the quality of services, and that includes learning how to meet the needs of tourists from different backgrounds,” he said. Gilan’s annual rainfall is higher than the global average, making it Iran’s greenest province, helped by the presence of the unique Caspian Hyrcanian forests. The province’s unspoiled landscapes and accessibility draw millions of tourists from in and outside the country throughout the year.
