Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Sees Boom in Ecolodge Sector

The Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization's office in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province has issued 22 licenses for the establishment of new ecolodges over the past two and a half years, a provincial official said.
"Since February 2016, permits have been issued for the operation of 22 ecolodges in the province, of which 14 are already in operation and the rest are going through renovation and restoration," said Morteza Mahmoudian, who oversees ecotourism development in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari.
The provincial ecolodge industry, which is mainly concentrated in the cities of Shahr-e Kord, Borujen, Ardal and Kuhrang, has so far generated 40 direct and 70 indirect jobs, Mohammadian said, CHTN reported. 
After all the newly-licensed facilities come into service, the capacity of the southwestern province to accommodate eco-tourists will increase to 500, from 200, and ICHHTO is reviewing 25 more license applications.