Tourism professionals in Gilan Province want to take advantage of the province’s vast expanse of natural landscapes to boost tourism and the local economy. As such, there are plans to establish a geopark in the province, according to Homayoun Kaveh, chairman of the Tourism Commission at the provincial Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. “The plan aims to promote nature-based tourism in the region,” Kaveh told Fars News Agency. Three workgroups for tourism development, education and culture, and identification of potential hurdles in implementing the plan have been set up at the chamber. Lamenting the fact that many “scientifically significant” caves and springs in the province remain unmapped due to a lack of infrastructure, he cited diverse climate in the region as one of the advantages of the northern province. “Results from visitors surveys indicate that tourists in this area favor being in touch with the surrounding nature,” Kaveh said.
