TEHRAN — Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, emphasized the importance of sustainable rural development and stressed that villages should remain vibrant through initiatives such as ecotourism resorts.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 24th Strategic Council of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage on Monday, he outlined the government’s new approach to local management and balanced tourism development. “Over the past year and a half, the Ministry’s Strategic Council has been established regularly, with the participation of more than 30 elites and experts in the fields of cultural heritage, tourism, handicrafts and social sciences. The mission of this council is to identify key issues from a comprehensive perspective and provide solutions to overcome fundamental challenges.”
He pointed to the need for direct communication with the provinces and regions in the country, adding: “Part of our strategic plan is to have governors present in the meetings of the Strategic Council so that decisions can be made based on a true understanding of local capacities and needs. Today we welcome the Governor of Ardabil. Ardabil Governorate occupies a prominent position as a center of civilization, tourism and handicrafts in the country.”
Emphasizing the importance of a balanced development of Ardabil, Salehi Amiri said: “Today’s meeting discussed issues such as the development of Salein’s housing and tourism infrastructure, the protection of the natural environment of the region, the organization of the Heiran axis, and the strengthening of Ardabil’s cultural heritage infrastructure.”
According to the report, more than 5 million domestic tourists visit Ardabil annually, but the proportion of foreign tourists remains low and this indicator should be improved with targeted plans, he added.
The minister further said, “Government’s policy is based on going on the ground, interacting with people and observing first-hand the capacities and challenges of each state. I have visited the states 65 times so far and this process will continue. Our slogan is ‘one state a week’.”
Balanced development is not possible without village revitalization, he said, noting that a national plan “One ecolodge for every village” is on the agenda, aimed at keeping people in rural areas, strengthening local employment, preserving local culture and traditions, and attracting domestic and foreign tourists.
He added that ecotourism is not only a factor of economic prosperity, but also a tool to reproduce cultural identity in the context of national development.
Prime Minister Salehi Amiri announced the allocation of 60 trillion rials ($60 million) worth of low-interest loans to promote rural employment and develop ecotourism, saying that under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Mosta Zafan Foundation, 35 trillion rials ($35 million) of low-interest facilities will be allocated to 17,500 small-scale workshops and ecotourism projects, which will generate more. 26,000 job opportunities.
This plan could be the beginning of a major leap forward in the field of employment and accommodation for villagers, he added.
Noting the ministry’s cooperation with hotelier associations and ecotourism resorts, he said that in line with policies to promote travel, extensive discounts are being offered by the country’s accommodation centers. For example, in Mashhad, some hotels are offering discounts of up to 50 percent, which is a commendable measure to encourage family travel, he added.
KD