Ecolodges Surpass 200 in Isfahan Province

The number of ecolodges across Isfahan Province has reached a record number of 208 in 17 counties and over 50 licenses for such traditional accommodations are also to be issued soon.

Speaking at the First Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Fereydounshahr County in Isfahan, Fereydoun Allahyari, the director of the provincial office of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said the construction of 89 hotels across the province in cooperation with the private sector is also on the agenda.

"Thanks to proper planning to involve the private sector and the full support of provincial officials over the past four years, Isfahan's tourism has experienced a significant growth," Allahyari was also quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency.

Based on statistics, over 900,000 foreign tourists visited Isfahan in this period, which shows a fivefold increase over eight years.

However, the official added that despite this progress, the tourism infrastructure in the province is far below the optimum level, especially in view of the rising influx of foreign visitors.

"Over the past few years, several measures have been initiated to address the problem and the figures show a relative success," he said.

The main goal of provincial authorities, according to Allahyari, has been expansion of sustainable tourism across all counties and regions of Isfahan.

The potentials of West Isfahan, for instance, had been ignored in the past while currently 30 tourism projects have been lined up for assessment and implementation in the region.

With numerous unique cultural, historical and natural attractions, Iran is among the 10 top countries in terms of tourism potential.

"Despite this, Iran's tourism industry is not operating at the optimum level and lags far behind its rivals in the Middle East," Allahyari said.

Ecolodges are local accommodations designed to have the least possible impact on the environment in which it is situated. These abide by the principles of sustainable development, a concept that has received a great deal of attention by major organizations across the world, including the UN.