Under the auspices of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, tourism and handicraft centers will be established in rural and less privileged areas, head of ICHHTO, Masoud Soltanifar, said in a meeting with director of the Presidential Office’s Deprived Areas Department, Abolfazl Razavi.
“Establishment of rural tourism and handicraft centers will create jobs and help preserve the cultural and historical identity of rural regions,” CHTN quoted Soltanifar as saying.
“The plan’s successful execution needs cooperation between government bodies.”
According to the official, a number of centers will be inaugurated in certain villages by March 2016, but the plan will be completed in the next five years.
Pointing to carpet weaving as an integral part of the handicraft sector, he said rural areas have a reputation of producing top-quality rugs and carpets, because of which the centers will have sections dedicated to the craft.
Soltanifar said between 300 and 500 villages will be targeted in the next few months to set up such centers.
