TEHRAN—Director of the Ilam Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Farzad Sharifi said that 37 tourism departments in the province have entered the standardization cycle, and 22 of them have successfully received the certificate of tourism service quality.
He told IRNA that the extension of the tourism facility activity license depends on the evaluation and receipt of a service quality certificate, which is based on criteria such as technical specifications, equipment, human resources and the quality of service provision.
Mr. Sharifi added that in line with the implementation of administrative regulations on the creation, modification, completion, grading, pricing of tourist facilities and monitoring of their performance, the tourism facilities in the province were inspected by the “Ide Novin Gardeshgari” company in the presence of representatives of the Supervision and Evaluation of Tourism Services of the Department of Tourism.
He said that benefiting from standard accommodation and service facilities is one of the cornerstones of tourism prosperity in Ilam province, adding: “Currently, there are 127 ecotourism units and 143 service, welfare and accommodation complexes operating in the state, each helping to attract tourists and strengthen local identity with a localization approach.”
Sharifi went on to say that the province’s first rural three-star hotel is ready to open in Ilam city, and a four-star hotel construction project is also underway, with more than 20 percent physical progress at Quran Square in Ilam city.
Sharifi said the project requires a 400 billion riyal ($400,000) loan from Iran’s National Development Fund (NDF) and is being advanced with the support of the governor general and representatives of Iran’s parliament (Majlis).
He also pointed out that the number of tourists increased on various occasions, especially during the Nowruz holiday, adding: “During the Nowruz holiday, more than 360,000 people chose Ilam province as their travel destination. This statistic is the result of effective media advertising and the extensive work of virtual activists to showcase the attractions of Ilam.”
He said that unauthorized tourism centers in the state are also being identified and regulated, and the owners of these centers must register with the comprehensive system for monitoring, statistics and information of tourist facilities called “JANA”, located at myst.mcth.ir, and obtain an activity license.
Sharifi said the department continuously evaluates tourism facilities and takes action against illegal activities, with the aim of protecting the rights of tourists and developing healthy tourism in cooperation with public institutions and regulatory authorities.
Ilam province in western Iran has an area of 19,086 square kilometers and includes the cities of Ilam, Mehran, Deloran, Dareh Shahr, Eyvan, and Abdanan. It borders three provinces: Khuzestan to the south, Lorestan to the east, and Kermanshah to the north.
Iram also has a 425 km common border with Iraq to the west. As Iran’s western gateway and route for millions of pilgrims to Iraq’s holy sites, the province occupies a special place on the country’s tourist map.
The state’s climate is hot and dry in the summer and mild in the winter. Ilam boasts beautiful spring nature. The provincial capital is Ilam. The city is surrounded by mountains and forests and benefits from a mountainous climate.
Ancient castles, waterways and riverbeds in the midst of mountainous nature are an attraction for visitors, especially in spring when the area is covered with greenery.
KD