TEHRAN (CHN) – Tourism activists in Isfahan Province are trying to convince Iran’s Cabinet Ministers during their provincial visit to Isfahan to introduce Gavkhooni Swamp, the Salt Lake, Fereydun-Shahr, and Semirom as international tourism destinations.

According to Hossein-Ali Vakil, director of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Isfahan Province, the main reason for doing this is to introduce the enormous potentials these areas enjoy in attracting tourists.

Gavkhooni Swamp is a preserved ecosystem in Iran. It hosts a large number of birds who migrate to this area during winter. Statistics show that some 40,432 birds, most of which were geese, migrated to this area in 1987. Gavkhooni swamp not only plays an important role in reducing the severe heat of the area during summer times, it is also considered very important for the underground supply of water and preventing the area from turning into a desert.

In a not very far past, the area was the settlement of a large number of zebras who became extinct due to the environmental changes and uncontrolled hunting in the region.

Different species of birds and marine animals still live in the area. By changing this swamp to an international tourism destination, a large number of tourists will be attracted to the area which would result in attracting investment to this region as well.

Vakil believes that cities of Isfahan and Kashan are the most attractive cities in the Isfahan Province; therefore, whoever invests in these cities by constructing hotels and other means of tourism investments will make a good economic profit.