Head of Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization Hossein Marashi said all services to foreign tourists are exempt from taxes as per a recent cabinet ratification, IRNA reported.
Speaking at the Ardebil tourism workgroup, Marashi said that ICHTO has been notified of and urged to implement the decision.
He noted that thanks to the incentive, all services to foreign travelers from accommodation and tour services to transportation are exempted from taxation. "Those investing in the tourism sector are also entitled to special low-interest bank loans," he mentioned.
The vice president explained that all economic activities are subjected to a 25-percent tax rate, except for tourism which has to pay a 12.5-percent tax rate. "This indicates the government's resolve to support the industry."
He stated that thanks to the efforts made, the growth rate in the number of tourists has reached 28 percent, approximating the 30-percent growth rate predicted in the fourth development plan (2005-2010).
According to Marashi, promotion of tourism industry requires that 300,000 billion rials worth of investment be made in the sector within the next five years, of which 250,000 billions rials is expected in private investment.

A view of Toghrol Tower in Shahr-e Rey, south Tehran

Managing director of Tehran Municipality's Beautification Organization gave news of efforts to renovate and reconstruct the Toghrol Tower in the capital city.
The tower, located in District 20 of the metropolis, is believed to be 1,000 years old and is one of the most valuable edifices belonging to the Seljukid era, ISNA reported.
Vahdati said historical studies suggest there have been another 70 towers akin to this one, which were all destroyed during the Mogul invasion.
The director said Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization is going to help with the restoration project. "Several billion rials are needed for the overhaul. The project will be launched as soon as the credits are secured," he said, referring to decisions to build cultural facilities in the tower's surrounding area.

The Commission for Monitoring Technical Standards of Hotels was established to promote customer satisfaction, secretary of Iranian Hotel Owners Society said.
Referring to government's programs for attracting more tourists by 2025, Khosrow Iranpour told ISNA that hotels would enhance their activities both quantitatively and qualitatively to draw more tourists and improve the prevailing conditions.
"The government should regularly monitor the activities of these accommodation units," he added.
Iranpour noted that one way to improve tourist satisfaction is to improve hotel conditions. "We should take the needs and demands of customers into consideration," he asserted.
Meanwhile, a university professor said an increase in hotel prices have made a number of vacationers to set up tents while traveling.
Mohammad Taqi Rahnamaei told ISNA that a growing demand for tents signifies that more people are willing to travel.
"Hotels are very expensive and the affordable lodges have very poor standards. Therefore, many people prefer to use tents," he added.
Rahnamaei mentioned that low demand for hotels has adversely affected investment in the sector. "Most hotel projects are centered in Kish and Qeshm resort islands, because of the large number of travelers," he went on. "A number of hotels have been constructed in Mashhad and Sarein. But the occupancy rate of hotels in other cities is very low."

Next Iranian year (to being March 21) has been designated as the 'Welcome to Yazd' year by the central province's cultural heritage department.
Deputy head of the department for cultural and communications affairs, Mohammad Reza Shoja, unveiled plans to offer courses in local guide training, in an attempt to train specialist workforce to guide Persian-speaking tourists.
"The participants would be acquainted with historical, cultural and tourism potentials and sites in the province, during 110 hours of classes," he said, adding the course is offered free of charge, and that the participants will be bound to help the department with its special ceremonies and programs next year.
He said a maximum 30 persons will be admitted into the course. Holding a bachelor's degree is a requirement.
Meanwhile, tourism publicity director of Yazd said a local tour operator is planning to offer camel riding and desert safaris. "Cutting costs would definitely increase demand for such programs," he added.

Gahar Lake is a major attraction.

Director general of Lorestan Department of Environment said that over 40,000 sightseers visited the protected region of Oshtoran-Kouh in Lorestan province during the summer.
Mohammad Karamollahi told IRNA that about 20,500 tourists visited Gahar Lake and the rest went to see Kamandan snow tunnel, Espar valley, Azna waterfalls, Doosh Deraz area and other regional attractions.
Stating that Lorestan tourism draws are largely unknown to people, he said that a number of foreigners from Spain, France, Czech, Germany and Austria visited Gahar Lake last year.
He enumerated lack of proper publicity activities, non-standard accommodation facilities as well as unsafe roads as reasons behind the low number of tourists visiting the provincial mountainous attractions.
Karamollahi added that about 650 million rials earmarked for installing solar lamps and constructing public conveniences in tourist sites of the province.
Oshtoran-Kouh, which is one of the four nationwide protected areas, is extended in an area of 98,000 sq.m. in the cities of Doroud, Azna and Aligoodarz.
Given its proper vegetation and abundant water resources, Oshtoran-Kouh not only possesses a rich biodiversity, but is also a unique habitat for wild species such as ram, brown bear, leopard, wildcat, boar, wolf and the Iranian squirrel. Various species of snakes such as vipers and adders also abound in the region along with numerous bird species such as partridge, golden falcon, pigeon, heron, and stork.
The region owes its beauty and splendor mostly to Gahar Lake, which attracts ecotourists and hikers from all around the country.

Among the oak forests of Oramanat and Paveh at a distance of 90 km from Kermanshah, there exists the Qoori Qaleh Cave which is considered the largest water cave in Asia. This cave begins in the Qoori Qaleh village, which locals say, continues westward to Iraq. In 1989, a group of provincial mountaineers discovered the interior of the cave and its numerous halls. The team also uncovered and mapped about 12 dark meandering paths inside the cave.
The Qoori Qaleh Cave has an area of 3,140 square meters and is 12 meters in length. A rare species of bat has been observed in the cave. Some objects relating to a nearby ancient Sassanid castle have been discovered there. The cave is noted for the diversity of colors and oblique pillars and waterfalls.
It is enclosed by various species of beautiful forest trees.

Shapouri House in Shiraz, Fars province. The monument dates back to Qajar era.

California Lemon Festival is held annually in Goleta.

Goleta held its 13th Annual California Lemon Festival on October 16-17, 2004 on the grounds of Girsh Park in Santa Barbara County. There were activities and entertainment for every age. More than 30 artisans displayed their crafts which included quilts, jewelry, clothing, stitchery and pottery, goletavalley.com reported.
Food booths, sponsored by community organizations and local restaurants featured lemon specialties including lemon chicken, lemon chicken sausage, lemon sherbet, lemon cotton candy and tri-tip roast. Lemon cooking contests and pie-eating contests highlighted the festivities. Plenty of lemon pies, lemon cake and lemonade were also offered.
Continuous entertainment by local music groups were but a few of the acts lending a festive air to the event. Rides for young and old provided all day as well as a petting zoo.
The Lemon Festival has always been known as a fun, informative and exciting event for kids of all ages.
In the 1890s, Sherman Stow, builder of Stow House, planted 600 acres of lemons surrounding his ranch. He generously shared lemon seedlings with owners of the surrounding ranches. The climate for growing lemons was perfect, with relatively low rainfall and year-round springtime temperatures, so the colorful citrus orchards thrived.
The tasty fruit was in high demand in the 1930s. During that era, 2,500 acres of lemons were picked and sold by the Goleta Lemon Association, in spite of the depression. Goleta lemons brought premium prices at market and by 1943, the local Lemon Association shipped 900 boxcar loads of lemons annually.
Through the 50s and 60s, the high demand for real estate in southern California replaced the fruit-bearing orchards with housing tracts. Nonetheless, lemons continue to flourish on hillsides and in the landscaped gardens and patios of many homes in the area.

Confucian says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
But even as dollar-hungry tourist havens seek to lure an ever-greater share of a constantly expanding and evolving market, one country stands on the verge of changing the face of the entire industry.
The single step that is likely to prove a giant leap came with the move last month by Chinese authorities to liberalize rules on issuing visas to its nationals for foreign travel.
Spain, which hosts the World Tourism Organization (WTO), depends on tourism as a major source of revenue equivalent to 12 percent of annual GDP.
In common with EU neighbors such as France, which ahead of Spain is the world's most popular tourist destination, the successful luring of a few thousand extra visitors a year keeps the economy ticking over in troubled economic times.
But where China is concerned, it's a whole new global ball game.
Five years ago some eight million Chinese nationals were on the move, but many limited their touring to venues such as Hong Kong and Macau, both newly returned from British and Portuguese rule.
By 2001, that figure had risen to 12 million, according to WTO figures. But by 2020, with their international visas--and increased purchasing power--in their pocket, the total is set to mushroom to 100 million, says the WTO.
By contrast, the WTO put at 20 million the number of hotel rooms worldwide in 2002--the United States and Japan alone accounting for a third of the total.
That means rethinking the tourist concept, especially in a country such as Spain, where the sun, sea and sand recipe is on the wane.
"This expansion is feasible. These tourists have read about where they want to go. Their dreams are coming true," explains Xu Jing, director of the WTO's Asian section.
"Historical monuments are attractive to Chinese taste. The number one places are places like London, Paris and Rome," says Xu.
And with Asians famous for taking short breaks, Xu says each day away has to count. "Chinese like Rome tonight and flying to Paris tomorrow. They are quick-movers. It's about multi-destinations on one trip," he told AFP.
An AFP straw poll of even the largest hotels in Madrid suggests many are blissfully unaware of which way the industry wind is blowing.
"I must confess I don't speak a word of Chinese, and I'm sure my colleagues don't either. It's never been a requirement," says Maria, a senior front desk receptionist with a major four-star establishment on Madrid's swish Gran Via boulevard.
News that Asian tourists do not wish to be placed in room number four or on the fourth floor--Chinese tradition links the number with death--came as a surprise to her and her colleagues.
A spokeswoman for Sol Melia hotels, Spain's leading hotel chain, told AFP that "the trend towards China is clearly on the horizon but we believe the sector will prove able to adapt as required."
Liu Jia Min, director of the Madrid branch of the National Tourist Office of China, says such unpreparedness will have to change.
"The sector has much to do and I think this goes for much of Europe. They are not prepared. There are few pamphlets available in Chinese--there is much more in Japanese--and there is a stark need to educate guides," said Liu.
But Xu at the WTO is optimistic the world can cope with the influx as the number of long-haul travelers spirals towards a projected 400 million by 2020, more than twice current levels, with Europe the top receiver region.