2008:024 MASTER'S THESIS

Strategies for Planning Domestic and International Tourism Development of Province With Emphasis on Religious Tourism

Seyed Heidarabadi

Luleå University of Technology Master Thesis, Continuation Courses Marketing and e-commerce Department of Business Administration and Social Sciences Division of Industrial marketing and e-commerce

2008:024 - ISSN: 1653-0187 - ISRN: LTU-PB-EX--08/024--SE Abstract:

Tourism with its broad range of impacts including amongst other economical,

environmental, social-cultural benefits and costs, is a global phenomenon, which has

variously attracted the attention of public and private sector interests. Because of its

propensity to generate substantial economic benefits such as employment, foreign exchange

,income and tax revenues etc. developed countries and developing countries and in

particular ,have embarked upon tourism-related development policies .One such developing

country is the Islamic Republic of ,the policy-makers of which are seeking to

expansively develop its tourism sector as part of dialogue of civilization and introducing

Iranian cultural ,historical and natural heritage to the world as well as means of achieving

economic diversifications. Iran’s rich array of cultural and natural recourses, many of which

are unique, constitute considerable actual and potential attractions and, therefore render

Iran as a significant cultural tourism destination. Thus the overall purpose of the present

study is to examine tourism attractions and to give strategies for tourism development of

Qom province which is one of the main religious tourism destination of Iran and the Shiite

world as it houses a lot of various attractions and a great number of tourists travel to this

to visit tourism attractions of . This province has got a very strategic

political, geographical and tourism conditions in Iran. Qom receives more than 12 million

local, regional and international pilgrims, tourists and as more than 16 provinces land

transportations are crossing Qom.

Korosh and Daryosh Hakhamaneshi erected the 2500 kilometers kingship road with

necessary equipment (including: passengers, guiding bars, hostels, numerous Caravansaries,

special official's appointment for keeping the road…). Iranian showed that they highly

attend to hospitality and tourism. Establishing numerous roads with necessary equipment in

including Silk Road in Ashkanian era and Karballa- in Safavieh 2 dynasty confirm this issue. In history, Iran has been one of the best countries for tourists as they mentioned in their itineraries. For example, Sharden, a famous French traveler in

Safavieh era, wrote in his book in this way: "All over the world, there is no country like Iran for traveling either in respect of little dangers and safety of roads being watched precisely or low price of expenses thanks to large numbers of public building for passengers through out the empire, free residence in them, and existence of flat roads and bridges in impractical parts for country's caravans and passengers." There are one million and two hundred thousand tourism heritages and attractions in Iran which confirms Sharden's words nowadays. Tourism industry is so significant in economic and social development having been called "invisible export" by economists nowadays.

3 Acknowledgement:

I would like to Thank Allah, God almighty, for giving me the courage and the strength to complete this thesis.

I am very much indebted to my supervisors, Dr Seyed komail Tayebi, and Dr Metin kozak for their valuable guidance, inspiration and above all for their patience. I also wish to extend my appreciation to Dr Shahin chairman of International Scientific Cooperation of

University of and his assistants and whoever helps me in this regard. Additionally, I would like to appreciate Dr Salehi, Chairman of industrial marketing of Lulea university of

Technology of Sweden and his assistants for their efforts to provide this opportunity to me.

My special thanks to my dear parents for their endeavor during my life and education, Finally, I would like to express my grateful appreciation to my family in particular my wife and my dear daughter for love, understanding support and faithfulness during my study.

4

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………..4

1-1 Research problem statement……………………………………………………….15

1-2 Raising an issue…………………………………………………………….……...18

1-3 Necessity of researching…………………………………………………………..19

1-4 Research Questions……………………………………………………………..…20

1-5 Research hypotheses ……………………………………………………………...20

1-6 Research Objectives……………………………………………………………....20

1-7 Limitations of researches………………………………………………………….20

1-8 Key Words…………………………………………………………...... 20

Generalities……………………………………….………………………………….…………22

2-1 The definitions and concepts………………………………….………………….……….22

2-2 Tourism in fourth five years development master plan………………………….………...25

2-3 Tourism in fifth five years development program (1972-1976)………...…….…………...25

2-4 Tourism in first development master plan of Islamic Republic of Iran(1989-1993)…...…25

2-5 Tourism in second program of Islamic Republic of Iran's development………...... …..26

2-6 Tourism in third program of Islamic Republic of Iran’s development…………...…....….26

2-7 Review on the province of Qom third development program evidences……………....….28

2-8 Limitations of tourism in Qom…………………………………………...…………...…..28

2-9 Priorities which considered to tourism sector development ……………………………..29

2-10 Future outlooks of tourism industry………………………………………..….…..30

2-11 Tourism industry and its social and cultural effects…………………………….…..……31

2-12 History and Antecedent of research……………………………………………..33 5

3-1 Natural geography……………………..………………………..………………………..37

3-2 Underground water resource…………………………………………….…………...….37

3-3 Animal environment……………………………………………………………………..38

3-4 Kahak summering Region……………………..…………………………………….…..38

3-5 Khalesjestan summering region……….…………………………………………..……..38

3-6 Qahan (Qahan valley) …………………………………………………….……………...39

3-7 Political geography…………………………………..…………………………….……..39

3-8 the roads of the province………………………………………………………………...39

3-9 Mankind geography……………………………………………………………..…….….40

3-10 Race and language…………………………………………………………………..…..40

3-11 Economical geography………………………………………………………….……..…41

3-12 Qanavat Division…………………………………………………………………………41

3-13 Kahak Division………………………………………………………….………………..42

3-14 Khalehjestan Division………………………………………………………..…………..42

3-15 division………………………………………………………….…………..43

3-16 Qomrud……………………………………………………..………………....……..……43

3-17 Jafar Abad division………………………………………………………..……..………..43

3-18 Social customs and traditions…………………………………………………………….44

4-1 The Holy of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) ……………………………………,,…….46

4-1-1 The of Holy shrine………………………………………………….……..…….46

4-1-2 The Veranda of Holy shrine…………………………….……………………………46

4-1-3 Mirror veranda………………………………………………………………………46 6 4-1-4 the of Holy shrine……………………………………………………………47

4-1-5 The porches: Upper porch…………………………………….……………………….47

4-1-6 The Holy shrine development plan……………………………………….….……….48

4-1-7 the museum of Holy Shrine…………………………………………..…………….…48

4-1-8 the memorial ceremony of the entrance of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) to QOM………..49

4-1-9 the Holy of Emamzadehs of QOM…………………..………………………….……49

4-2 The city of Qom…………………………………….……..………………………..53

4-2 -1 the History of Qom………………………………………….…..………………………54

4-2-2 Qom is safaviyeh dynasty…………………….………………………….….…………55

4-2-3 Old market …………………………………..……………...………………….…….. 56

4-2-4 Haj Asqar Khan Public Bathroom………………………………………….……….56

4-2-5 The graves of green dome………………………………………….……………….57

4-2-6 Emam Khomeini's mother’s tomb……………………………………….………….57

4-2-7 the grave of parvin Etesami……………………………………………...…………58

4-2-8 …………………………………………………………………………….58

4-2-9 Religious sciences schools……………………………………………...…………59

4-2-10 the historical Houses ……………………………………………………..…..….60

4-2-11 the castles…………………………………………………………………….…….62

4-2-12 Bridges……………………………………………………………….…………..63

4-2-13 Reservoirs……………………………………………………..………………….…....64

4-2-14 Guide pillar and historical hills………………………………………..………………65

4-2-15 Handicrafts………………………………………………..……………………..…66

4-2-16 Souvenirs……………………………………………………………………..………67

4-3 Natural attraction of Qom province………………………………….………………68

4-3-1 Salt Lake………………………………………………………..…………………67

4-3-2 Huze- Sult Lake………………………………………………..………………….67

7 4-4 Tourism Facilities and Equipment of Qom province…………………………………68

4-5 Residing and service Facilities……………………………….………………………..72

4-6 postal and transmition facilities…………………………………..……………..…….74

4-7 bank facilities in Qom……………………………………………………..…………..75

4-8 effects of tourism industry in Qom…………………………………………………..76

4-9 Quality and Quantity of tourism……………………………………………………..76

4-10 characteristics of tourism in Qom…………………………………….…………….77

4-11 having the common goal of pilgrim……………………………….………..……..77

4-12 goal of traveling to Qom……………………………………..………………………78

4-13 short term residence………………………………………………………………….78

4-14 Qom international tourism…………………………………………………..……….79

4-15 tourism seasonality…………………………………………………………..……….80

5-1 Limitations and Problems of Tourism Development…………………………………102

5-1-1 lack of statistic and information………………………………………….…….102

5-1-2 Tourism policies instability…………………………………………………….102

5-1-3 Transportation problems………………………………………………….……103

5-1-4 Lack of advertisement and official problems………………………………….104

5-1-5 Problems and shortages of hotels, motels, tourism facilities in province…...... 104

5-1-6 Lack of familiarization with tourism industry…………………………….……104

5-1-7 Law problems……………………………………………………………………104

5-1-8 Shortage of skillful manpower…………………………………………………..104

Lack of knowledge about cultural heritage, handicrafts, traditions, and customs

attractions…………………………………….………………………………………..…104

8 5-1-9 lack of planning and development strategies………………………………105

5-1-10 The main tourism obstacles and problems…………………………………105

5-2 Marketing strategies………………………………………………………….……106

5-2-1 Local, and national tourism development………………………….………106

5-2-2 Religious tourism development……………………………………………106

5-2-3 Marketing in tourism destination countries according to national tourism master

plan of Iran…………………………………………………………….……107

5-2-4 number of tourists relations according to the tourism equipment and tourism

facilities and service…………………………………………………..……107

5-2-5 Propagation and advertisement of tourism attractions by internet and

equipment…………………………….………………………………….……108

5-2-6 Asking the tourist idea about the services…………………..…………..…107

5-2-7 Considering tourism as an effective industry……………….……………..107

5-2-8 Developing communication with international tourism organizations and

participating in specialized conferences and seminars…………………108

5-2-9 Promotion of cultural division activities of Iranian embassies………….…108

5-2-10 Museum development………………………………………………..……108

5-2-11 Natural development (Ecotourism) …………………………………….…108

5-2-12 Traditional arts and social tourism development…………………………110

5-3 Training strategies……………………………………………………….……..…109

5-3-1 Local and public training for tourism development………………………109 5-3-2 Training for people working in tourism industry (hotels, motels …)……..109 5-3-3 Training specialized manpower……………………………………………109 5-4 Strategies for giving value to religious, cultural, historical, and ecotourism attractions for tourism development………………………………………………………109 5-4-1 Increasing tourists length of stay strategy…………………………………109

5-4-2 Recovering and developing tourism attractions……………………….….110

5-4-3 Infrastructure equipment development………………………………...….110 9 5-4-4 Establishing handicrafts, traditional arts production and distribution center..110

5-4-5 Preparing cultural, social, and traditional exhibition……………………...110

5-4-6 Reconstruction of historical buildings and changing them to heritage and

traditional restaurants and hotels……………………………………….…110

5-4-7 Changing tourism to cultural, historical, and natural heritage supporter…..111

5-5 Organizational and officials strategies ………………………………..…………..111

5-5-1 Establishing one decision making organization responsible for tourism

development………………………………………….………………………111

5-5-2 Establishing of tourism scientific research center…………………………...111

5-5-3 Establishing advertisement and propagation council………………..………111

5-4 Law strategies…………………………………………………………..……………112

5-5 attracting domestic and foreign funds for tourism projects…………………..……..112

5-6 Conclusion ………………………………………….……………………………...113

References………………………………………………………………………..………115

List of Figures Tables:

Figure (4-2) goal of traveling to Qom…………………….………………………………78

Figure (4-13) Tourist Length of stay in Qom…………………..…………………………78

List of Tables:

Table (4-1); the number of rail roads and the length of different rail roads and the number of stations………………………………………………………………………………………69.

Table (4-2); all kind of roads within the realm of department (transportation)………....69

Table (4-3); the number of legal of condition of travelers' transportation companies in

Qom……………………………………………………………………………………70

Table (4-4); the number of legal condition of goods transportation companies in Qom …….70

Table (4-5); the number of city tour, domestic tour. ……………………………….………71

Table (4-6); the number of travel and travelers in 2002 to Qom……………………….…71

10 Table (4-7); Accommodations of Qom in 2006…………...... …………………….…71

Table (4-8); the cost of rooms in hostels of province in 2005 in USD. …………….……73

Table (4-9); the cost of rooms in hotel of province in 2005 in USD. ………………….…74

Table (4-10): the number of parks and their extents………………………………….…75

Table (4-11); extent of playground of Qom in 2005……………………………….……75

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12 1-1Research problem statement:

The philosophy of careful planning in every works and problems is to achieve objectives through logical planning and removing the obstacles. A discussion about various dimensions of tourism shows that tourism has become the major way for economical, social and cultural development in many countries which receives many tourists. Iran should solve many problems and remove the obstacles for tourism development. Iran has 30 provinces.

Qom province is located in the center of Iran and it has a very strategic, religious, cultural, historical, and geographical situation, because Qom province is located on the major highway of north to the south of Iran. Seventeen provinces land transportations are done through Qom province. The Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) and

Mosque and the other Holy places give Qom an international importance. Qom province is the second province for religious tourism which receives more than 15 million international, national, and local tourists in Iran. Meanwhile Qom province has many cultural, historical, and natural attractions.Qom province is one of the major religious tourism destination in

Iran which is receiving more than 15 million pilgrims, international and internal tourists coming to Qom to visit the holy . Most of the international tourists are from Bahrain,

Saudi Arabia, , Kuwait, and Qatar …

Now the question being raised is that how much we can benefit from tourism industry? Undoubtedly, we can say that our country is extremely deprived of this extensive industry which the weakness of determining the politics can be considered the most important of them. In spite of actions having been taken for attracting travelers in our country over the past years, especially at present, yet there is no specific politics due to lateral treatment. As a matter of fact, physical treatments with tourists indicate that we don’t still realize its importance. Whether the problem is arisen from not attracting travelers, cultural contrast (value contradiction), or the country doesn’t need travelers to enter to our country thanks to overflowing oil resources, or there is other issues.

13 As a Muslim country, how many percents of 1/2 billion of Muslim countries have visited our country. How many percents of 5 billion of world populations are unrestrained that we are worried about their entrance to our country?

If we accept that only 20 percents of them are obligated, how many of them have traveled to Iran with pleasure? Some believe that in security of region is the reason of coming few travelers to Iran. In this case, why does being the most insecure countries in the world attract 2/3 million travelers and their income has been two billion dollars yearly?

About cultural issues, there is an attitude concerning that travelers are propagator of culture. Although some of travelers have such behaviors, there are many countries for them to travel, so there is no need to travel to Iran. Of course many of travelers pay specific attention to cultural issues and protecting dignities.

In a meeting holding in Philippine in 1997, countries owning tourism industry asked travelers to respect cultures and nation's social values, protect national values, and respect social patterns of host countries. It's predicted that approval of universal tourism morality regulations triples that growth of this industry by 2020.

In the first chapter of this research the generalities of the study is considered this research (study) tries to deal with the essence of the research.

In the second chapter the definitions and the types of tourism are considered.

Mean while the religious tourist is studied mostly.

The viewpoints of some experts and also 's opinion about tourism are set forth in this research. At this chapter some of the rules about tourism industry are expressed. These rules are going to prove the theory of research.

In the third chapter the natural and human characteristics of Qom are considered.

14 In the fourth chapter the tourism attractions of Qom are considered at three aspects: natural, human, economic and living attractions. The equipments and facilities of tourism are also considered at this chapter. It tries to deal with these facilities in a realistic way. The quality and quantity of Qom's tourists are not ignored at this chapter.

In the fifth chapter the basic policies and strategies are set forth in order to plan for tourism development in Qom. This chapter tells about the difficulties and problems of this planning.

And finally, in the last chapter the conclusions and suggestions are presented.

Traveling, touring and visiting as a pilgrim which is nowadays known as tourism. It is one of the primary instincts which exist in the human nature since his birth this phenomenon has existed in the human societies in a special form.

According to the available document of archaeology, the primitive human beings came out of their residence (deserts, caves) in order to hunt something. There are many documents left from the primitive ages which tells about traveling and human movement both individually or in a group. At our period the issue of tourism is considerably important that some newspapers argue about it. Touring creates different forms of motivations in the society.

The motivations as below: curiosity, having a desire to be informed, about the unknown regions, to get a job, to earn income, to buy and to sale something, transportation and other economic factors, recreation to be educated, to be cured, to emigrate, to visit as pilgrim, to promote religion. Some people travel to somewhere to escape from difficulties such: draught, famine, and political changes. A human being can not meet all his needs in his permanent residence. By this statement we can understand the concept of tourism better.

15 1-2Raising an issue:

Among the symbolic and vital features of ancient and modern world civilizations, tourism is the only symbol which can be regarded higher its geographical expansion than political borders of countries, administrative distribution and tribal domain power.

Today tourism industry in most of the countries and areas boasts as a symbol of identity and cultural communications and as one of the important source of earning income.

Growth and development of tourism as a verbal industry doesn't need to present any kind of documents and evidence. A review on studies and researchers which have been published during recent years, explain fast and hasty tourism development towards a gigantic and powerful industry and phenomenon with cultural and social fields.

Tourism statue has local, regional, national and also international development aspects beyond its special importance. The importance of this subject which has been considerate several decades ago and also now admire and confirm from all sides caused countries instigations in using of it's sources field to develop this industry by suitable invest this industry development can be maker of abundant wealth to attracted area of tourists and create various jobs and by compose of internal and external sources and via advanced planning we can gain it's arisen national economic and social aims. Iran potentially is one of those countries which can accept millions of tourists every year and by improving facilities attain to exorbitant income.

The province of Qom as apart of Qom as apart of Iran's extensive (surface) is one of the including regains which in case of removing existed obstacles and by enjoying of cultural features can accept vast numbers of domestic and international tourists. By utilizing power and using this province capabilities (facilities) and tactful strategies in order to scientific planning in this way we can take an important step.

16

1-3Necessity of researching:

Considering that tourism count as one of the important element of regional construction, is a activity and balancing social and economics development in regions and establish fairly distribution of income and also benefit from a basic role in creating jobs and complementary sources and secondary system of income, wealth balance, changing economic activities, leading income from to villages and finally preventing to villagers out-migratory and social-welfare in areas surface. And also with regards of that in developed and industrial societies by improving the level of living (life) and cultural changes, recreation and people time-consuming create some new buildings and make a strong relation among all kinds of amusement and goods .

Hence, with regards to above statements and ever-increasing needs of a city dweller person to resting recreational place and higher than all annual moving of millions tourists, the necessity of study in tourism and recreational geography feel more.

Since tourism industry consider as one of the important effective elements and industry in economic, social and cultural master plans of country, is an industry which can be consider as a profitable, lucrative and joyful in economic view with planning added to its cultural-social burden which consist of sciences, commerce and cultures acquaintance and introducing historical, religious,… works and places.

This research is planning to study diverse dimensions of tourism industry subject and also taxing a step in his field.

Regarding to the fact that the only country's basic resource for procuring foreign currency income is oil and its products, that the country's average income of oil between 12 and 15 billion dollars, with having in mind the oil price fluctuation in universal market and beside no exports and its income is so insignificant, as goods being produced in industry sector are not so comparable and competitive with other foreign

17 rivals. Therefore, the industry which can overshadow other industries by its growth and development and help country's economic development and finally increase per capita income is tourism industry. On the other hand , tourism industry caused hand icrafts to be flourished, makes job opportunities, creates income by selling and presentation services and local and industrial goods. This industry can energized the economic cycles of country and open a window on religion for presenting Islamic spiritual values and provide favorable field for taking tourism seriously. 1-4the questions of research:

These questions are raised for smoothing the path of research to attain aims. Which factors can be beneficial in improving and developing this industry inQom? Whether Qom enjoys cultural, historical and natural attraction (ecotourism) other than historical and religious attractions? 1-5Research hypotheses:

Research hypothesis which we try to prove or reject as follow: Doing tactful strategies can flourish and expand tourism in Qom. 1-6Research Objectives:

This research follow the below aims: Introducing tourism as a significant activity in economic, social and cultural development and also introducing tourism potentials of Qom.Clearing tourism resources and facilities magnitude, necessity of promoting these resources actually including natural and human ones endeavoring in keeping them. Specifying problems and obstacles, aims and politics of tourism that start

Limitations of researches: In this research, some limitations in gaining aims, gathering information and analyzing relating to subject had caused the problems that face the writer which set forth as follow: Lack of cooperation and inclination of some offices and organizations.

1) Time limitations and lack of facilities and budget necessary for research. 2) Lack of statistics and contradiction in statistics and exiting information in statistical sources. Relative lack of necessary sources and information relating to research subject

1-7 Keywords: Tourism Religion tourism Sustainable tourism Strategies and planning

Culture Sustainable tourism development Development

18

19 ¾ Generalities:

Tourism has been changed to an important social activity in our period. It is in fact as a reply to the natural need of curious human being. Tourism as an important human phenomenon is considered from the political, social and geographical view points. with regard to the importance of tourism and tourist in the economic social destiny of the countries, in order to recognize and determine the tourist’s identity and also to set the different statistics, many definitions presented by the international organizations and experts. With regard to their closed concepts, it is observed that thousand s of people accounted or not accounted as a tourist by a definition. In order to have a unit procedure for correct using of statistics which has an important role in analyzing the issue of tourism and also in order to plan in tourism, presenting a perfect definition is considerably important. 2-1 the definitions and concepts:

The the word “tourism” means “Jahan Gardand e” (world traveler) one who travels around the world so much. Tourism is apparently an equivalent for the word “siahat” in and “tourism” in French. The Arabic word “siahat”means traveling so much and

“sayyah” or its Persian equivalent “JahanGard” is a person who travels so much. But in the current Persian language touring and going on a journey are different. Most of the Persian speakers know the word tourism and traveling journeys so much. While the words “trip and journey” are used for short and far or near travels. Despite that using the words “tourism and tourist” is more habitual than trip or journey in the written Persian language, but using the mentioned words is not as habitual in the daily conversations. When the people who belonged to the middle class of society have joined to aristocratic travelers, the word “tourist” has been made.

The word “Gardeshgari” is the Persian equivalent of tourism. But it is clear that not only the words tourism and tourist have similar points but also nowadays these words with a little difference in their pronunciations and their written form have entered to approximately all

20 languages of the world and they are used with similar concepts. But we must know that the word

“tourism” derivates from “tour” that is an old French word. In the French language this word means: circle movement, act of going, going around, circulating. Until the 20th century, there was no attention to a perfect definition of tourism, but the economic crisis in 1929, the governors of western societies found that tourism can play a role in the payments’ balance. In 1973, the committee of united nation’s statistical experts took the first step to define the international tourism. In the opinion of the above committee all the people who leave their country for the period of at least 24 hours and live in another country will be the title “international tourist”.

According to this definition which is generally acceptable, the below people should be accounted as a tourist, too.

1) A person who traveled in order to attend in the meetings and conferences or when a political economic scientific and sport representative traveled to another country.

2) Person who traveled in order to carry out business affairs.

3) Person who traveled by ship even in the period of less than 24 hours.

The below people not accounted as a tourist:

1) A person who enters a country to get a job, according to a job contrast.

2) A person who enters a country in order to reside in that country forever.

3) Students and the youth who study in a school or university of a country and reside in a dormitory.

In 1967,according to the united nations, statistical committee’s plan, a meeting composed of a group of statistical experts was held in order to argue about the number of above meeting emphasized to accept definitions of tourism and tourist which were presented at the conference in

1963,and also they agreed that daily passengers who stay in their destinations less than 24 hours and people who want to have a job in the country where they passed its boundaries and the

21 transit passengers who do not spend night in the hotels of that country are accounted as tourist.

Tourism is in fact one kind of recreational activity by which amount of money is earned in the origin country and is spent optionally in the destination.

A tourist is one who travels to a country in order to have fun, to visit the sight-seeing to be cured, to study, to trade, to sport or to visit as a pilgrim on condition that the period of their journey should not be less than 24 hours and more than 6 month.

In order to have harmonies definitions, some of the experts knew the word “Gardeshgari” as an equivalent for domestic tourism and the word “Jahan gardi” for international tourism.

Dr Mohammad Hossein Papeli has dealt with tourism in different ages as below:

At the custom age: tourism is tolerating difficulties to recognize and to be informed in the fictional horizons and religious principles and somewhere beyond the nature. Although we should not underestimate other motivations such as business and education but tourism is not on the basis of benefit and pleasure. Capitalism is never important to tourism at the custom age.

At the post modern age:

At the age of electronic information, the human beings can go around the world by use of

TV, video, antenna or satellite and internet while they are on their work desk or sitting on a

sofa at their house. They are immovable and figurative tourists who stay at their house and

enjoy all the natural gifts and all kinds of cultures; also they enjoy sea, sun, sand , sexual

intercourse, archaeology history, and the wand ers of the sea and deep points of sky.

The most principal activities in third master plan are programs which are related to tourism facilities such as hotels development, urban and inter-road restaurants and hostels, are also followed by creating supervised facilities on private sector units (hotels, travel agencies,…) since coordinated development of tourism industry was needed to expert manpower, some institutes establish to educate staff and tour guides coordinately.

22 2-2 Tourism in fourth five years development master plan:

General purpose of international tourism development program were consist of increasing number of tourists to 520000, prolong median stay time of international tourists to at least 8 days and also equipping the tourism roads.

2-3 Tourism in fifth five years development program (1972-1976):

Fundamental guidelines and executive policies of fifth master plan are counted as follow:

1. Especial attention to domestic tourism and create average and cheap stay

installations.

2. Giving long-time loans with low interest to private sector in order to encouraging

them to invest.

3. Creating more facilities in playing, resting and tourist recreation with cooperation

of tourism and information ministry and other systems and supreme council of tourism and

information.

2-4 Tourism in first development master plan of Islamic Republic

of Iran (1989-1993):

Some of the quantitative and qualitative purposes of this plan are:

1. Advertising Iranian's culture and civilization to the world.

2. Create appropriate fields to issue Islamic revolution via tourism development and

acquaint various nations with different culture in the world to civilization and nation.

3. Create suitable fields of traveling Iranians to abroad and improving and extension

of Hajj and holy places pilgrims' works.

23 4. Increasing number of tourists from 80000 in 1989 to 318000 in the last year of

program.

5. Increasing number of domestic tourists who are going to abroad to 830000 in the

last of program year.

2-5 Tourism in second program of Islamic Republic of Iran's

development:

In second program encouragement of private sector to planning of creating stay centers and tourism and Iran-touring installation via governmental support, giving half- finished units in private sector and offer services with better quality could have been in mired. The most principal policies of second program were creating concentrate (focus) on planning and policy making of tourism and Iran-touring.

During 1994-1996 numbers of tourists who inters to country and resulted exchange income was increased. But in 1994 the increasing of exchange income was not so much changed instead of per tourist. In 1994 the increasing of exchange income percent as regards of last year growth 17/9% and in 1995 as regards of last year grew 32/6% and in 1996 as regards of its last year grew

27/3%.

2-6 Tourism in third program of Islamic Republic of Iran's

development:

General guidance heads of country development of third program which related to tourism

sector are as follow:

24 1. To introduce Iran and Islam eminent values and culture to word lings, some arrangement

prepared, it stress on knowledge of other nations culture and utilize their positive aspects, and

expand cultural exchanges to the other region and countries.

2. Merger of tourism and Iran-touring organizations and country's cultural heritage in order

to move harmony in direction of cultural identity power, strengthen national unity, extending

ultra section duties and increasing their utilized activities.

3. Applying statistical system and suitable news transmission to cultural, natural and tourism

heritage development and increasing popular cooperation.

On the basis of third development program well-documented reasons, Iran's share of international tourism is anything, about 1%.

In third development program it have been gain only 13% of expected aims, statistics of tourists who inter in 2002 were 1547922. Most of the tourists who come to Iran are those inter to our country from eastern neighbors and common wealth countries. Another point is that all of these entered ones are not tourists, some of them emigrate to Iran from Afghanistan to find job and some of them are Iranians who stay in abroad and come to meet their families, among these tourist numbers, 1300000 of them come to Iran by means of earth and sea-roads.

According to third development program expectations, it was agreed that tourism have a futuristic move with an annual growth value of 30%, but it wasn’t feasible affectively, and 6/6% growth was a stressed thing on management and reliable planning.

30% growths of country tourism establish the supreme council of cultural and tourism heritage by presence of 13 members who 9 of them must be of ministers and 4 of them must be of knowledgeable people. Making culture, private sector cooperation, transit visa approval for 7 days, are the purpose of forth program of development in country tourism sector.

25 2-7 Review on the province of Qom third development program

evidences:

On the basis of the province of Qom third-five years, cultural, economical and social

development program, facilities and limitations of tourism sector development are explain as

follow:

1. Holy Shrine of the Holiness Ma'Soumeh and Jamkaran .

2. The Imam Khomeini’s house which is reminder of days fight against rebels.

3. Feizieh School which is an important and historical center of Islamic sciences in the world.

4. Qom desert which is a suitable center and cradle of desert tourists.

5. Existence of regions with mountainous whether.

6. Positing in the center of country and crossing of large communicative highways, positing

on the way of energy sub structural networks cross, neighboring which industrial centers and

large (markets) of the country (, Isfahan and Arak).

2-8 Limitations of tourism in Qom:

1. Sever shortage of stay, touring and sporting places.

2. The existence of sub structural problems and difficulties concerning all ways,

communications and environmental means.

3. Difficulties of play grounds utilization.

4. Lack of necessary cooperation and harmony among urban, regional and national

organizations.

5. Shortage or lack of suitable official and executive rules to utilize and protect popular

playful sources.

26 6. Unorthodox immigration to the city of Qom and so-unmethodical and discordant growth of city population.

7. Placing industrial units which pollute environment in the areas of Qom, also on the basis of these evidences.

2-9 Priorities which are considered to tourism sector development

are as follow:

• Stress on identifying tourism facilities of the province of Qom on the basis of its related issues in the province.

• Spending tourism development allocations to establish sub structural installations and preparing tourism centers and attractions to investment of non-governmental sector.

• Support and create necessary facilities to invest non-governmental sector in the province tourism industry.

• Protection and revival of the province tourism and Iran-touring attractions.

• Developing and strengthening tourism sector facilities especially new transmission services in urban-border entrances of the province.

• Stress on touring and tourism centers of the province protection.

• Revival and renewal of historical-cultural places priorities like caravansaries and old houses for changing into stays and entertaining places on the roads of the province.

• Stress on introduce historical-cultural works of the province in order to creating more attraction to cultural and regional tourists…

• To explaining purpose features and program of tourism and Iran-touring development some purposes maintain (mention) as follow:

1. Increase the number of international tourists come in to the province 50000 to 100000 during the program.

27 2. Increase the capacity of classified stay installation from 3476 bed to 4650 beds.

3. Increase the occupation capacity from 58% into 80%.

2-10 Future outlooks of tourism industry:

¾ There are three points of view to future outlooks of tourism industry:

In the first point of view the fundamental and basic changes are in the priority like developing foreign and international communications with other countries, making close off stays qualities to international standards, checking the hygienic services, improving level of news transmission training and applying more man powers.

On the basis of this point of view if we could act successfully, according to the foreseen after first three years of force program, 2315800 tourists will come to Iran.

In the second point of view that purely like that first outlook only the attempt to develop foreign relations is fiddly predict, the number predict in this scenario will retain to 4230000 after 3 performing years of program. It means without any alteration in foreign policy and communications by this current process we have a double yield of first point of view.

In the third point of view an ideal scenario have been designed. By this view that we have any problem in international communications and having a good starting point we can see on about

15% growth.

The evidences of fourth program indicates that it consider second point of view. If there is efficient management and planning in the country, in that way it must predicate on income with at least 12/14 milliards dollar value.

28

2-11 Tourism industry and its social and cultural effects:

Nowadays, culture which is different from tourist culture is one of the tourist attracted elements, to their visited destination. Indeed these differences are cause travel motivation inside people. This subject has an especial importance in the province of Qom tourism sector that paying attention to it will solve in front difficulties of the province of Qom tourism sector.

On Tilever view "cultures is a system of values, looking and science that common among the people extensionally and transfer from one generation to another".

Paying attention to the culture has on special importance to all the tourists who intend to travel from one destination to another, because the first question that a tourist asks from himself is:

"Which place in the world is that my visited place positioned in it? Which kind of government has it? Which cultural level its people have?" so the role of culture in tourism industry development must be in the priorities of staff and liable. Whatever that most of all remain memorial in the tourists minds is how behaving of host society with their guests and in fact it resulted from culture level of society.

In tourism industry, culture acts as an attracting element, for tourists and passengers who travel to a region. Activities, events or cultural production reveal as inspirational forces. Culture and tourism have a mutual relation to each other.

Cultural samples of a society affects on citizens and their ability and their ability and desire to travel. Culture cause motivation to abroad travels and determine form or style of this trip.

29 If we can see the cultural differences by the glasses of cultural relativism, we will find this ability to looking at the other with an open-mind and honor to human culture varieties. Cultural relativism theory is so important in tourism industry development and interpersonal relations.

Being important of this is because of the view that it has to wear the glasses of optimism in cultural aspect to advancing tourism goals and meanwhile we honor to our country and we must respect the other cultures. Culture as one of the tourism industry development buildings can play an important role in Iran. During the history, tourists, historians and anthropologists that search on cultural of Iran or pass away of it, with consider of ugly and beautiful issues wrated about Iranian made are not few (thin), these who know Iranian as clever, talented and with a proper culture than other region nations.

Whatever we observe on the view of foreign about Iranian society is sourced from our culture and civilization and it could be applied in tourism industry development.

Today's percent of cultural tourism as regards its other aspects is not low. Despite all problems and difficulties which dominated culture caused like Islamic rules, could be admitted that cultural sector has an ability that is profitable to this. Most of the tourist travel in order to fallow the cultural attractions. Italian and almost France are obvious examples of cultural tourism. Totally one of the most important ways of tourism development is cultural knowledge.

During the history human being unclearly aware of culture existence, even this little and surfaced awareness formed due to comparison of traditions and habits of societies with each others.

Recently psychologists have been neglected from the importance of culture since in effect of researches they know that the only natural knowledge of human being could not cause his knowledge. But his cultural and social past, play an important role in his current behavior and even rejects Fruid view about instincts that define into natural reflections and know that it

30 affected of cultural conditions. It must be admitted that readiness of people to living in society is subject to general knowledge of culture.

In relation to this point of view and tourism development and cultural dimension of it in Iran, this issue avails from especial importance that make cultural readiness in order to accepting tourism in the country.

2-12 History and Antecedent of research

Fortunately, in recent years tourism and its relating subjects have caught the attention of managers of organs, offices and organizations which are related to tourism, and some researches have been done nationally, provincially and also rand only in this regard. Of course, extensive need for basic and practicable researches is felt. Generally, there are numerous researches which engage in tourism generalities including:

Tourism principles and bases. Alvani, Mahdi and Dehdashti Zohreh. Poor foundations economic and planning assistance 1994.

Rezvani ali-asghar Payam-e-noorUniversity 1995. Biography and tourism industry.

. Rahnemai Mohammad Taghi 1994. Biography, leisure time and tourism.

Monshizadeh, Rahmat Allah mosa 1992. Tourism.

Urban tourism Mahallati, Salah Aldin. 2003. Shahid Beheshti University.

Dibai, Parviz. Allameh Tabatabai1992. Acquaintance of tourism.

Mahallati, Sallah Aldin An introduction to tourism. 2001. Shahid Beheshti University.

Tourism industry in Iran and world. 1976. Feizbakhsh Hoshang. High ranking school of tourism services and information.

Tourism industry in Iran. 1992. Planning and budget organization.

An introduction to geography of tourism. 1975. Shokoii Hossein. University.

31 Numerous articles having been presented in publications and valid scientific magazines of country including political and economic information, geographic researches seasonality, monthly of municipalities and magazine of tourism and touring in Iran and etc.

Articles having been presented in touring in Iran and tourism seminars and some these concerning our country's provinces rand only.

Rahnemai, M.T, geographical of leisure time and tourism, 1990. Tehran University.

Rezvani a, geography and tourism industry, 1994. Tehran Payam-e-noor University.

ZarinKob Abdulhossein, Rozegaran, 2000.Sokhan publications.

Ranjbaran Bahram and Zahedi Mohammad, Tour panning nationally and regionally,

University jihad publications of Isfahan's unit2000 .

Ranjbaran Bahram and zahedi Mohammad, tourism industry services, Kankash publications 2005.Parsaeian Ali, and Arabi Seyed Mohammad, tourism in comprehensive perspective, cultural researchers' office 1382. Hasan, of blessed memory and collaborator, collection of touring in Iran comprehensive guidance of Qom, touring in Iran publication

1991.Ranjbaran Bahram and Zahedi Mohammad, Acquaintance of tourism, Chahar Bagh publications 2005.

Yavari Hussein, Acquaintance of traditional arts, tourism knowledge publication2004.

Ahmadi Morteza and Pormovahhedi Javad and Ardekaniyan Abbas, Study of

tourism and leisure time industry 1999.

Tohidi Faegh, Acquaintance of cultural heritages, cultural heritage organization

2001.

Shalchian Tahereh, Morality in tourism, Farzaneh publications 2001.

32 Mostufi Nasrollah and Ahmadi Morteza, Method of qualitative training in tourism industry, cultural researches office2001.

Noban Mehr Alzaman, Cultural heritage of Qom, Cultural heritage organization of country 2002.

Pender, 1, 1999, Marketing Management for Travel, Tourism, London, UK.

Godfrey K and Clark j. 2003, Tourism Development Hand book, New York,

USA.

33

34 3-1Natural geography:

The extent of Qom province is 11240 square kilometers and it is located between located the central part of Iran. Qom province has a lot of mountains, that the most famous of them are valija which is 3330 meters height, takt -e- sar Huz which is 3193 meters height in south of Qom.

Approximately, 25 percent of the province is mountainous, valley and the reminder is plain and field water resources:

Rivers: Most of this province flows from west to east, south to north. The most important rivers are Qarechai, Qomrud (Anarbar) and the minor rivers are Emamzadeh Esmil, Bidhend (Abarjas)

Qaresoei, Tuqrud.

Karaj salty river and jajrud flows from north to Tehran and finally enter the salt Lake.

Meanwhile there are some seasonal rivers which enter Huze- lake from north of the province.

Dams:

Emamzadeh Esmail Dam, Kebar dam, and senjegan dam had been made to provide the necessary water for agriculture and underground water resources. Some important dams also have been constructed on the river. Kebar dam is one of the dams which have been registered by

Qom general office of tourism and cultural heritage and it is the oldest curved dam of the world base on the documents.

One of the most important reservoir dam is panzdah Khordad dam. This dame has been constructed out of the province to provide the drinking water of the people of Qom.

3-2 Underground water resources:

The natural situation of the land of Qom province causes that people constructed well and subterranean to get the necessary water for their forms.

35 3-3 Animal environment

Some small groups of wildlife like, goat, sheep, deer, pig, fox, rabbit, wildcat, wolf and ram, porcupine, jackal, reptiles have been seen in some regions of Qom. One of these regions is palangdareh. This region because of the planet and animals verities has been known as palangdareh from long time ago, and covers an area of 30 Hectares In the south-west of Qom and it is located on the road of salafchegan to Nizar.

3-4 Kahak summering Region

The city of Kahak including its villages has mountainous and moderate land it is one of the summering region of Qom province. It has beautiful garden, high mountains and sweet water, so it has attracted a lot of the internal travelers and some people have invested in tourism to attract tourists. There are some tourism complex like Keshti abi, Baq sangi, Kolbe sabz, Kohestan

Park and some other projects in this area.

Some of the beautiful villages of kahak are Furdo veshnaveh, Kermijigan, Avel, Khoveh,

Bidhand , they are the summering villages, and they are considered as the most beautiful villages of Iran.

The existence of substructure, like piped water electricity, gas, asphalted roads, is some of the reasons for the presence of tourists in the regions.

3-5 Khalesjestan summering region

Khalejestan and its villages have moderate and mountainous climate and it is one of the summering region of Qom.

36 3-6 Qahan (Qahan valley)

Qahan contains two valleys, one of them is Kohand anvan valley which is known as the bride of khalajestan, and the second valley which starts from Aghalak, Banabar, (it has water in the whole year) Jemizgan, Qahan, Nevis, Kasoua, and ends in Anjileh.

3-7 Political geography

Qom province is limited from north to . From east to , from south to and , and from west and south to Markazi province.

Qom province is located in the west of salt lake. According to the latest governmental division, this province has one city (Qom) and five divisions which are central division, kahak division,

Khalejestan division, salafchegan division, and Jafar Abad division. It also has five towns which are Qom, Qanavat, Kahak, Dasjerd, , and ten rural with 356 villages. Qom province has a special geographical situation and because of that, it was considered as one of the most important places for human beings it the primary civilizations.

3-8 The roads of the province

Qom has eight main connecting ways. Four minor ways, three railways to the neighboring that some of them are mentioned below.

Qom- Tehran highway (130 Km)

Qom- Highway

Qom – Tehran old road

Qom – Isfahan highway

Qom – road

Qom – Arak highway

Qom – Tehran railway

Qom – Arak – south railroad

37 Qom – Kashan – south railroad

3-9 Mankind geography

According to the official statistics of Iran statistics center, the population of Qom in 2006 is

1/150/000, that from this statistics approximately 93 percents of this population live in cites and 7 percents live in villages. The biggest city of this province is Qom that from the viewpoint of population is the sixth city in Iran. After the Islamic Revolution, the population of Qom increased very fast. The population of Qom increases a lot because of the existence of holy shrine of Hadrat

Masoumeh (s.) religious situation, and the biggest seminary schools of shitte world, so different kinds of people immigrated to Qom from different during the last centuries and resided in the cites and villages.

Foreign immigrants especially from Afghanistan, , , because of political events in the neighboring countries, and some other reasons immigrated to this city. Approximately 170/000 foreign people live in Qom.

3-10 Race and language

The race of people is one of the branches of Aryan race. Their language is Persian. The dialect is very closed to Tehran dialect, and Qomi dialect is little by little forgotten. But the immigrants of

Qom speak Farsi and their own dialect.

Religion:

The people of Qom like the other people of Iran followed Zoroaster, Before Islam.

The existence of Navis, kermijegan, langarud, and chahak fire places confirmed this idea.

According to the historical documents people of Qom embraced Islam from the entrance of Islam to Iran, they has been the followers of the innocent Emams.

38 3-11 Economical geography

The most important economical sources of Qom province, is tourism industry, specially religious tourism. The holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) receives many pilgrims during all the seasons that come to Qom from different cities of Iran and other countries. This condition affects the jobs market and economy very much.

Secondly, after the tourism industry other industries and mines, agriculture, handicrafts, souvenirs, are some of the important economical sources of this province, of course handicrafts and souvenirs development are completely related to the tourism development.

Salafchegan special economical zone is a place for the economical development of this province.

There are three hunting parks in different parts of Qom province and animals' varieties can be considered as the potentials of tourism development and attracting economical incomes for the people.

3-12 Qanavat Division:

It is one of the two cities of central division which is 8 kilometers away from North West of

Qom. One of the most important natural attractions of Qanavat is desert, which attracted many visitors.

Saheb – Al – Zaman (God may Hasten his Reappearance) Mosque (Jamkaran)

This mosque is very much respectful and valuable for the Shiites of the world. It is located at the beginning of Qom – Kashan road and it is 6 kilometers away from south – west of Qom beside

Dubaradaran Mountain and Jamkaran village.

The last remains of this mosque dates dack to L.H. 1167. This mosque hosts many groups of the lovers of the Household from different part of Iran and the world everyday Specially Tuesday nights. The presence of pilgrimage groups and caravans on Friday and Tuesday nights is very interesting and attractive. The development plan of has made this divine place more attractive. New services and resting equipments have been made here.

39 3-13 Kahak Division:

Kahak is one of divisions of Qom province located in the south of Qom and the distance between the division centers to Qom is 30 kilometers. The history of this division dates back to 70 years ago.

From the viewpoint of population is the second division after central division in Qom province.

This division includes two townships, Kahak and Furdu and 18 villages. Apart from, the summering regions that they were discussed in the natural attractions chapter, the existence of various works in this division indicates That they are the important reasons for attracting tourists and pilgrims.

3-14 Khalehjestan Division:

Khalejestan district is one of the districts of Qom province which is located in south of the province, and Dasjerd is the center of this division, and the distance between Dasjerd to Qom is 55 kilometers. This division has two rural districts (Dasjerd and Qahan) and 64 villages.

The main economical activities of the people of this district are agriculture and planning trees of cold regions, and cultivation of different summer crops.

Apart from agriculture, there are some other economical centers like khalajestan industrial region, Traditional and Industrial husbandries, Meanwhile, there are 100 hen houses, Kosar flower house including 27 active units in a land which is 220 hectares. Khalajestan division has many beautiful villages with many cultural and tourism attractions that some of them are as follows;

Tinuj, Fujerd, Nayeh, Amereh, Jemizqan, Apart from the summering regions of Khalajestan, there are many religious, cultural, and historical works which represent the cultural, and ancient history of this region.

40 3-15 Salafchegan division:

Salafchegan is one of the most important divisions of Qom which has 10 thousands populations and it is 40 kilometers away from Qom. This division has two rural districts. Salafchegan division contains a special economic zone and an industrial district which gives it a special importance.

In division which is 2000 hectares, there are 60 factories, and many economical areas. The most important tourism attractions of this division are as follows; Emamzadeh Jafar (s.), Emamzadeh

Abdullah (s.), Emamzadeh Muhammad Qarib (s.), Emamzadeh Ghibi (s.), Emamzadeh Khadijeh

Khatun (s.), Emamzadeh Ebrahim (s.), Emamzadeh Esmail (s.), shahzadeh Moein (s.), shahzadeh

Abbas (s.), shahzadeh Qasem (s.), Emamzadeh sariyeh Khatun (s.), langarud ,

Dehkadeh Talab caravanserai, salafchegan dam, Tayeqan and Jandab river, the mountainous, and good climate regions around Emamzadeh Abdullah (s.) and Tayeqn village is a good Eco – tourism attraction of this division.

3-16 Qomrud

It is one of the cities if this province which is 12 kilometers away from North – east of Qom.

Jozveh is one of the historical buildings of this city.

3-17 Jafar Abad division:

It is one of the divisions of Qom, and Jafariyeh which is the center of division is located on north – west of Qom, and it is 35 kilometers away from Qom. This division is located on the connecting roads of central and western provinces. Some of the natural attractions of this division are as follows; Tuqhrud, Kulat Abad, and Golestan summering villages. Some historical attractions of Qom are Emamzadeh yahyai (s.), Emamzadeh tughrud, and the entrance of Dulat

Abad, Balagaleh castle, reservoirs, pachiyan bathroom, and the hill of Hyderabad Bustan village.

41 3-18 Social customs and traditions

Festivals, celebrations and religious and national ceremonies:

The people of Qom held many celebrations on different festivals, like (15th of shaban) the birthday anniversary of Emam Mahdi (God may hasten his Reappearance), seventeenth of Rabi –

Al – Avval (the birthday anniversary of Islam Prophet (s.)), twentieth of Jamdi – Al – sani

(birthday anniversary of Hadrat Zahra (s.), eleventh of zei – Al – Qadeh (birthday anniversary of

Emam Reza (a.s.), first of zei – Al – Qadah (birthday anniversary of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.)), eighteenth of ze – Al – hajjeh (Ghadir festival), Nuruz festival and other religious and national celebrations. On these days, people decorate the streets and alleys with lights and serve the passer

– bys with candy and Juice. Most of the people pilgrim the Holy shrine, specially, the Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) on these days. People of Qom after pilgrimage the Holy shrine of Hadrat

Masoumeh (s.) go to visit the religious scientists and Jurists. People congratulate the Jurists and also participate in the celebrations held in Jurists' houses.

42

43 4-1 The Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) :

The Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) is a treasury of artistic and architectural works which shines in the Shiite world.

4-1-1 The dome of Holy shrine

In L.H. 925 the dome of the Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) was reconstructed and outside The Holy shrine was covered with Moaraq and the Tall veranda and the two minarets in the old yard were built. In L.H. 970 shah Tahmaseb safavi ordered to complete and decorate the Holy shrine with tile making tomb and steel tomb and after that the present golden dome was made. The golden bricks were decorated in which was kept until 2001.

At the same time the mirror Veranda and steel Veranda on the grave were replaced by valuable silver and the Balasar Mosque and Dar – Alshafa religious school and mirror veranda were made and decorated with mirror.

4-1-2 The Veranda as of Holy shrine

Golden veranda as In L.H. 259 golden veranda along with two smaller veranda as were made next to each other. The walls of the whole building were decorated with Moaraq up to two meters. This inscription on the roof of the veranda has been covered with golden bricks. The two shorter verandas as which are located around the golden veranda is decorated with Moaraq tiles.

4-1-3 Mirror veranda

This veranda is decorated with mirror so it is called mirror veranda, and located on the eastern side of Holy shrine. Mirror veranda with the whole front saloon and smaller halls on the two floors, great tall minarets on the sides has special Islamic and architectural decoration and it is a very outstanding building. This complex has a special, wonderful, artistic view, and the

44 architecture of this complex dates back to Qajar period and this veranda was made by Hasan

Memarbashi.

4-1-4 The minarets of Holy shrine

The of mirror veranda:

There are two Mazaneh (place for calling to prayer) on the pillars on the two sides of veranda which is one of the tallest buildings of the Holy shrine that on the inscription which is one meter wide, some Islamic mottoes are written.

The coverage of the Mazaneh from top to the bottom is tiled that the grand and great name of

Allah can be read between the names. There are two other Mazaneh in the great yard (New or

Atabaki) which is located in front of mirror verandaand gives a special beauty to the yard.

The minarets of old courtyard

In the old courtyard on the golden veranda, there are cylindrical and tall Mazaneh which is covered with spiral tiles that between the spirals, the grand name like Mobarak Allah,

Muhammad and Ali are written in Banai hand writing. Muhammad Hasan khan shahs van shahbul Malek Bana ordered to make these Mazaneh in L.H. 1285 and their were gladdened, in L.H. 1301.

The Holy tomb of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.)

In L.H. 605 in Al- Mozafar period, Muhammad EbN Abi Taher Kashi Qomi decorated the

Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) with golden tiles. In L.H. 1377, the Holy shrine was reconstructed with tile and stone.

4-1-5 The porches: Upper porch:

This is a space between Upper Mosques till the Holy tomb which is called Upper porch.

45 Dar Al- Huffaz porch:

This space is between golden veranda and Holy tomb and the special ceremonies of Holy

Quran memorizers, night ceremonies of servants of holy shrine are held here, too.

Mirror veranda:

This veranda is located at the bottom of tomb in ladies pilgrimage center.

Front veranda:

This veranda is located between Tabatabei Mosque and the Holy tomb that the morning ceremony of the servants of Holy shrine is held here.

4-1-6 The Holy shrine development plan:

From 2001, the development plan of Holy shrine which was a national plan was stated by the government, and Housing and city Urbanizing Ministry was chosen as the administrator of this plan. The big bed – chambers and two Courtyards are the parts of development plan of Holy shrine that in July 2nd 2005 was opened by ex – president of Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr.

Muhammad Khatami. The extent of buildings of this complex is 13,275 square meters, that 1914 square meters of this extent includes dome, northern. Southern, eastern, veranda, Mosque and the graves of Safavi Kings.

4-1-7 The museum of Holy Shrine:

The museum of Holy shrine as one of the oldest museum of Iran, that is one of the outstanding treasuries of Iran. It was opened in 1926 and it was reconstructed very well.

The major cultural and historical properties of this museum have been gifted or endowed to the

Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (S.). Some Samples of these paintings are as follows: minatory, picture designing, inlaid works, glass dishes making, potteries which belong to different historical dynasties.

46 There are also a collection of Islamic – Iranian coins, that some of these coins had been minted in Dar Al – Emam mint house of QOM. A kofei hand written Holy is presented to the viewers in the museum which belongs to second century.

4-1-8 The memorial ceremony of the entrance of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) to QOM.

Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) entered QOM from saveh – QOM road on twenty – third of Rabi – Al –

Avval of L.H. 201. The people of QOM and Musa EbN Khazraj, who was one of the lovers of the household, came out of the city to welcome her, and Musa Ebn Khazraj who was holding the camel bridle, took the great and respectful lady to his house. She passed away after 17 days – stay in QOM because of her sickness. Every year, the servants of Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) held a symbol welcoming ceremony, and they honored this day.

Candle holding:

The ceremony of candle holding is very beautiful and attractive; this ceremony is specialized for the servant of Holy shrine, that they do it when they want to change their shifts.

Rain request ceremony:

One of the suitable customs of people of QOM is holding rain prayer, worshipping God and asking divine blessing, and rain at the time of drought. This ceremony is held in some religious places like the Holy shrines of Emamzadeh in a special manner. As Second World War started a drought happened in QOM simultaneously, as people said rain prayer under the leadership of

Ayatollah Khansari, it rained. The most usual festival, and religious ceremonies of QOM are as follows; Qurban festival, thirteen of Farvardin (nature day), vow and bequest, rain – request ceremony, lecturing ceremonies, special ceremony

4-1-9 the Holy Emamzadehs of Qom:

Emamzadeh Hamzeh (A.S.): Hamzeh is the direct child of Emam Musa Kazem (A.S.) and he and Ab- Ebn Musa (shahe – cheraq) were born from one mother.

47 His Holy shrine is in Talaqani Street near Kohneh square. The style of his tomb is like the Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) with smaller sizes.

The dome is 10 meters height and it is a mixture of dome and cone and it is one of the works of present century.

Emamzadeh Esmail (a.s.) (Known as – e – sarbakhsh):

His name is Muhammad and he is one of the grand children of Emam sadeq (a.s.). His tomb is located in Taleqani Street opposite chehel – Akhtaran. The building of this shrine is one of the works of eighth century.

Emamzadeh sultan Muhammad sharif (a.s.):

He is one of the grand children of the fourth Emam, Emam zein – Al – Abedin (a.s.), and his tomb is in Chahar Mardan street in an alley which has the same name. The architecture of this building dates back to ninth and tenth centuries.

Emamzadeh Naserudin (a.s.):

He is one of the grand children of Emam Hasan Mojtaba (A.S.) and his tomb is located in

Bazar junction, opposite the northern gate of Emam Hasan Asqari (A.S.) Mosque. The building has square shape which is one of the works of twelfth century or the end of safavi dynasty. This tomb has scalene and square shape.

The wall of this building is covered with marble stone and turquoise tiles and mirror works.

The ceiling is decorated with mirror works and plaster and the outside view is made of brick and tile.

Emamzadeh shah Ahmad Qasem (a.s.) :

He is one of the grand children of Emam Jafar sadeq (a.s.). His Holy shrine is located in sumayeh square (Moalem square) and it is one of the works of eighth century. The beautiful and valuable plaster shows L.H. 780. The grave stone has been decorated with golden tile that is kept in Berlin Museum as the adytum of QOM mosque. 48 Holy Shrine ofChehel Akhtaran:

In eastern part of QOM in an area called Musaviyan, there is a holy shrine of some

Emamzadehs that is known as chehel Akhtaran. The most famous of them is Musa Mobarqa

(A.S.) the son of Emam Javad (a.s.). The present tomb of Emamzadeh zeid (a.s.), one of the grand children of Emam Sajjad (a.s.) is also in this complex. Some people believe forty ladies, forty men,

25 kids, and totally 105 people were engraved here.

Some famous Emamzadeh of QOM are: Emamzadeh Ali Ebn Jafar, Emamzadeh Ebrahim, the six Emamzadeh, the five Emamzadeh, Emamzadeh safura, shahzadeh Abdullah, Emamzadeh shah Jafar Gharib, Emamzadeh shah Jamal, Emamzadeh shah sayyid Ali, The four Emamzadeh,

Emamzadeh sayyid Masoum, Emamzadeh shahzadeh Ebrahim, Emamzadeh Ali Hareth

(Emamzadeh khakfaraj) Emamzadeh Ali Musa Al – Reza, Emamzadeh shah Ahmad – Ebn

Eshaq, (Emamzadeh) Ume Muhammad Mimoneh.

Emamzadeh Esmail (a.s):

The Holy shrine of this Emamzadeh is located in Bidehan village between the two mountains and it is almost 60 km away from QOM. It is very historical and respectful. It is one of the grand children of Emam Sadeq (a.s.)

The building of this Emamzadeh includes two veranda, one tall dome which was decorated with tile works.

Some of the tiles of this building which belongs to seventh century are kept in Astaneh

Museum. The Holy shrine of Emamzadeh Muhammad (A.S.) who is one of the grand children of

Emam Musa kazem (A.S.) is located beside Emamzadeh Esmail (a.s.).

Emamzadeh zeinab Khatun (Masoumeh) (s.):

She is Emamzadeh sayyideh zeinab khatun, one of the grand children of Emam Musa kazem

(a.s.). Her tomb is located on the north – west of the city of Kahak, on a mountainous area. The

49 most outstand ing artistic works of this Emamzadeh is the nailed door that L.H. 979 was engraved on it, and it is kept in Fin Garden museum of kashan.

Halimeh Khatun (s.) :

This tomb is located in langarud village in south of QOM in kahak township and it is 12 km away from QOM. She is one of the grand children of Emam Musa Kazem (a.s.)

Emamzadeh soliman (a.s.)

This is the place which one of the grand children of Emam Sajjad (a.s.) was engraved, and it is

2 kilometers away from Sarm village.

Emamzadeh Hadi (a.s.):

This Holy shrine is located in veshnaveh village and that is one of the works of safari dynasty.

Emamzadeh Bavareh (a.s.)

This Emamzadeh is located in Bavareh farm and it is 6 kilometers away from furdu village.

This Holy shrine includes two tombs, Emamzadeh Muhammad and Hussein (a.s.) and the other tomb is for Halimeh Khatun and Zeinab Khatun, the grand children of Emam Musa Kazem (a.s.).

There are two engraved boxes on each of the tombs, and that is one of the artistic works of eleventh century. Some other Emamzadeh of The township of Kahak one as follows Emamzadeh sultan Mahmood and shah zeidi. Emamzadeh sultan soliman, Emamzadeh Abbas, Emamzadeh

Ebrahim, Emamzadeh Fazel, Emamzadeh NoorAli, Emamzadeh Eshaq, Emamzadeh Mohsen,

Emamzadeh shahrbano, and Emamzadeh Roqiy

Emamzadeh Hadi (a.s.):

The tomb of this Emamzadeh is located beside Jemizqan – Qahan road on a mountain slope.

This Emamzadeh is known as shahzadeh Hadi, and he is one of the children of Emam Musa

Kazem (a.s.). The building of this Emamzadeh is 800 years old.

50 Emamzadeh Jafar (a.s.):

This Emamzadeh is located in “Giv” village near Dasjerd which is the center of Khalajestan division and this is the place in which one of the children of Emam Musa Kazem (a.s.) has been engraved.

Emamzadeh Zakariya (a.s.):

It is located between Eisi Abad village and Midanak and a dried river. Beside this river the

Holy tomb of Emamzadeh zakariya (a.s.) one of the children of Emam Musa Kazem (a.s.) is located and it belongs to safari dynasty.

Some other Emamzadeh of Khalajestan are as follows; Shahzadeh Ebrahim (s.), Umeh salmeh

(s.), Umeh Kalmeh (s.),

Halime khatun (s.), shahzadeh Eshaq (s.), shahzadeh Jafar (s.), Emamzadeh Aqeb the three sister (s.), shahzadeh Abbas (s.), BiBi

Zubeiydeh (s.), BiBi sharifeh khatun (s.), shahzadeh Abutaleb (s.), Emamzadeh Ahmad (s.),

Emamzadeh Alamdar.

4-2 The city of QOM

QOM is the only city of QOM province which is 130 away from west of Tehran .QOM because of Its religious trainings and its effects on the political changes specially during the last century, It is called the divine capital of IRAN.

The denomination of QOM

There are different sayings about the name of QOM, but the most famous one is “komeh” or

“kom”, then this name was changed to QOM by the Arab Immigrants.

Another group also believes that QOM is a word taken from Komidan which was abbreviated as Kom.

51 4-2-1 The History of QOM

Some of the written sources, says the History of QOM dates back to one of the legendry Kings

(Tamworth) and they believe QOM had been a creditable city before Islam and It was a big city.

In L.H. 23, the city of QOM was conquered by the Islam troops under the leadership of Abu –

Muslims Ashari, and it was separated from Isfaham in L.H.189. One of the most important events which took place in the first centuries in QOM which is also considered as one of the most important reasons for QOM development was the immigrations of many , (Emam's grand children) and the children of the household of the great prophet (s.) to QOM and their religious propagations about Shiite. As Emam Reza (a.s.) in L.H. 200 and his sister Hadrat Fatimeh

Masoumeh (s.) in L.H. 201 came to QOM, this city was changed to a great center of Shiite of the world. Kofei religious schools was replaced by QOM religious schools in the second century, so

As Had rat Masoumeh (s.) passed away in L.H. 201 and she was buried in a garden

called Babelan which was one of the city at that time people made their houses around

her holy shrine to use the Holy shrine. From that time on, the buildings on the eastern

part of city became deserted and people came to western areas. The Holy shrine is the

most important reason for the city development. One of the worst damages to the people

of QOM was the invasion in L.H. 621. Quli Darvish historical hill which is

nationally registered was the old residential area of QOM and it was destroyed during

Mongols invasion. From ninth century on, finally QOM deconstruction was finished, and

reconstruction and a new life was started.

QOM became one of the oldest centers of religion and sciences publications.

Safaviyan made a lot of religious schools like Feiziyeh School and reconstruction of the Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) are some of their works. Construction of religious buildings with special and outstanding architecture belongs to this dynasty. New industries like soap making, glass making, reinforced the economy of this city in safariyeh dynasty.

52 QOM in constitution period:

During the constitutional revolution, immigration of scientists and people to QOM were very effective on the political history of this province. This immigration was aimed to achieve the goal of scientists and people. The great immigration was done in 1904. When the grand religious scientists like Tabatabi (Ayatollah Bahbahani, sheikh Fazlullah Nor and many students of religious schools.

And people of Tehran took refuge in the Holy shrine of had rat Masoumeh (s.) and changed

QOM to anti-dictator ship center; finally Mozafarudinshah issued the constitution order in 1904.

Panzdah Khordad Rebellion:

Another historical event which took place in 1964, was Panzdah-e- Khordad Rebellion

Simultaneous with the anniversary of martyrdom of Emam Sadeq (A.S.) pahlavi Regime forces invaded to Feiziyeh School and Killed and wounded many students. Right after that Emam khomeini issued a very important notice and stated silence in front of pahlavi Regime is not permitted.

On the afternoon of ashura of the same year he made a very important and historical speech and he condemned Muhammad strongly. Then savak (secret police of the last regime) arrested Emam Khomeini at night after his speech. When people of QOM were informed about his Capture, they went to Emam Khomeini’s house, and then they went to the Holy shrine of

Hadrat Masoumeh (s.).

The demonstrators gathered in Holy shrine and said many mottoes against kingdom regime and continued their demonstration to the streets around the Holy shrine. Then, after the people left the Holy shrine forces of pahlavi regime killed the unarmed people.

4-2-2 QOM is safaviyeh dynasty:

QOM was a center of religious sciences publication from the time of Ashavi period and it is considered as the center of shitte narrators is second and third century, but it enjoyed a special situation a five Shiite has been noticed as the official religion of the country. The religious schools 53 benefit from the excellent scientists like, Mula Sadra, Mula Abdul – Razaq Lahiji, Mula

Muhammad Taher Qomi , Feiz Kashani At That time QOM had ten districts , and each of these districts had a special passageway which was connected to the city center. The ten districts of

QOM are as follows ; Astaneh eshqali , Alvandiyeh , Chahar Mardan , Seidan , Sangband ,

Musavaiyan , Jame Masque , baq-e-panebeh , Eshaqiyeh .

Safaviyan made a lot of schools in QOM that Feiziyeh is one of them. The style of deconstruction of the holy shrine of had rat Masoumeh (s.) indicates that.

The majority of religious buildings of QOM which have an outstanding and great architecture that belong to safavi period.

The new industries like soap mankind and glass making Change the economy of QOM and it was improved.

QOM market with 400 years old is located in the city center which includes two series of shops.

In new and old market with domed coverage.

4-2-3 Old market:

The length of old market is one kilometer and the roof had been made in a domed coverage.

This market has one nameless store and another store which is called Mula Hussein caravanserai on the two sides of old market, the main and old part of Qom market is located.

New market:

The length of new market is almost one kilometer and the width is 6 meters. It has residential and narrow alleys with two to Three meters width which are connected to the market. Most of stores and shops of Qom market we located in the south of new market.

Some of the stores of this building are as follows: Sadre – Azam store Hamadanian Store.

Haj Asqar khan stores also have minor shops which are made on the two sides and it is called

Dalan.

54 The new market has two passageways. The first passageway is connected to the market junction and from one side to shoe makers market, and builder's store, the second passageway is located in shoemakers market which is opposite the copper makers market.

The great Arcade of QOM

The great arcade of QOM market is one of the worthy and outstanding buildings of QOM. This arcade is located on the north of stores of new market. This building has been made by Hasan

QOMi who is known as Memarbashi, and it has been planned and designed in L.H. 1301. This is one of the outstanding buildings from the viewpoint of extent, art architecture decoration. The grant arcade of QOM has 20 rooms in downstairs and 12 rooms upstairs, and it has valuable plaster and Moqarnas.

The dome of this building is circle and the lower coverage is ornamental fastening with small holes in it for lightening inside the building arcade has two entrances to the stores of new market.

4-2-4 Haj Asqar Khan public Bathroom:

This is one of the historical works of Qom which has Islamic and architecture and it is located in the new market and it is used yet. This building is more than one century old. According to the present inscription on the entrance door, history of this bathroom dates back to the beginning of

Qajar dynasty.

4-2-5 The graves of green dome

Some religious, historical remembrance had been made in QOM in eighth century that in

Iranian architecture is called grave towers. The most outstand ing of these building are called the graves of QOM – Kashan gate.

There are three graves with outstand ing plastering and the kings of tribe of Ali safai, the independent governors were engraved here in eighth country.

The valuable and special plastering of this building belongs to eighth century.

4-2-6 Emam Khomeini's mother's tomb:

55 The respectful graves of Emam khomein’s mother, his aunt are next to the Holy shrine of

Emamzadeh Ali and Hareth (A.S.) in Al – Hadi square, that many pilgrims visit them.

4-2-7 the grave of parvin Etesami

parvin Etesami one of present poets of Iran who died in 1952 and she was engraved in one of rooms of great courtyard of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) some other grave, graveyards of QOM are;

Quluyeh graveyard, Karbalai kazem graveyard and Vadi – Al – salam graveyard. Some of the present jurists and scientists like Ayyatullah Brujerdi, Golpayegani, Araki, Hayeri (the founder of QOM religious schools, Bahaudini, Sadr, Khansari, Alameh Tabatabaei (the writer of commentary of Al – Mizan) and Motahari , and etc.

4-2-8 Mosques

Azam Mosque

Azam mosque of QOM is located next to the Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) on the western side this mosque is made by Hussain Ebn Muhammad known is Lorzadeh with the effort of Ayyatullah Brujerdi.

This mosque is known as Azam (great) and that is because of it largeness, and it has three verand as. One large portico, are tall dome, one big verand a, two forty pillars, a library and some other rooms.

Old Jame Mosque:

This mosque is one of the oldest and biggest mosques of QOM and it is located in Talaqani

Street. It is made in L.H 752 or 755, old Jame mosque includes a tall dome, a verand a, three bed – chambers a big courtyard, and one basement.

Emam Hasan Asquri (a.s.) Mosque

It is known as Emam mosque, and it is located at the beginning of Astaneh street next to

Alilikhani Bridge and it is near the Holy shrine of Hadrat Mosoumeh (s.) and it is one of an old and a creditable mosque of QOM.

56 Emam Hasan Asqari (a.s.) ordered to make the first building of Mosque and it was constructed by Ahmad Ebn Eshaq Ashari the representative of Emam Hasan Asqari(s.) in the third century and it was reconstructed and developed in safavi dynasty Emam mosque has four bed – chambers, one verand a, and one basement. Many religious school students study and discuss here.

Some other historical mosques of QOM are kohneh square mosque panjAli mosque, EshqAli mosque.

4-2-9 Religious sciences schools

There are many religious schools for students of religious training which are activated under the supervision of QOM Huzeh (Elmiyeh) QOM religious school.

There are 48000 religious Iranian student who study full time, and 7000 students studying part time in different levels.

More over, there are 13000 foreign students studying full time, and 4000 students studying part time from 100 countries.

Feizyyeh religious school:

Feizyyeh School is one of the most famous religious school of Islam world.

The present building of school is located in old courtyard was made in place of Astaneh school which is one of works of sixth century. The school building has four verand as, forty rooms downstairs, and forty rooms upstairs that the history of this school dates back to fourteenth century.

DarAlshafa religious school:

FathAli shah Gajar order to make this school and it is connected to Feizyyeh School in L.H

1214. At the beginning it was a place for curing the patients and was known as the Holy shrine clinic, and in L.H 1307, Kamran Mirzaei Qajar repaired it and this school was known as Dar –

Al – Shafa.

57 This school before Islamic Revolution was destroyed because of depreciation and it was reconstructed in a lighter style in three floors. It has 200 rooms one gathering saloon and 16 public halls, and a part of it is designed for the administrative and managing departments.

Sebtiyeh school (Bit – Al – Noor)

This school is located in Mir square, and it was the worshipping place of Had rat Masoumeh

(s.) which is recontructed with an interesting architerture. Some rooms have been made around the school for the students.

Jahangir khan school:

It was known as Naseri and Janikhan School and it is situated in Taleqani street near Kohneh square opposite Jame mosque, and it belongs to safavi period.

Razavi School:

This school is located in Taleqani street in QOM and the first building of this is one of the oldest school and it is attributed to Emam Reza (a.s.)

Hujjatiyeh School:

It is one of the largest religious schools of QOM. In L.H. 1366 Ayyatullah Sayyid Muhammad

Hujjat Kohkamirei Tabrizi ordered to make it and he is engraved here. Nowadays, this school is used for Non – Iranian students. Some other famous and big seminary schools of QOM are:

Ghiyathiyeh (Pamanar) Haj Sayyid Sadeq, Ayyatullah Golpayegani, Shahbieyeh, Masomiyeh,

Moemeniyeh, Khan, Saduq, Mahdiyeh, Haqani, Shahiydeyan, Emam Sadeq (a.s.) Kermaniyha,

Alhadi Jama – Al – Zahra (s.)

4-2-10 the historical Houses

Emam Khomeini,s (P.B.U.H.) House

The house of Emam Khomeini in QOM, includes two floors, and it is very simple. This building is constructed in two floors. (Basement and first floor) The yard is located in southern part of the house. The roofed area is in north east and west of the house. The stairs divided the

58 house into two parts, outside and inside. The hall on the east was the place in which Emam

Khomeini presented his lectures in last decades.

The House of Ayyatullah Brujerdi:

It is located in Chaha Mardan Street and it belongs to Qajar dynasty. This is a very old house in which many historical important events took place.

Some other historical houses of QOM, which remain form Qajar dynasty, are:

The house of Ayyatullah Haj Sheikh Abdulkarim Haeri Yazdi (the founder of school and Emam Khomeini,s professor) located in Taleqani street, Yazdanpanah house located in Bajak street, House of Sayyid Baqer Ruhani next to Kozarqale mosque, Tavakul House in

Taleqani in street House of Sayyid Haji Rohani opposite Emam Sadeq (a.s.) mosque and Shakeri house in Taleqani street. Haj Ali Khan Zand house:

This house is located in old historical part of the city called Cahar Mardan Area in Gozarqale alley. It belongs to the end of Qajar dynasty. (130 years ago)

Haj khan House:

This building belongs to the end of Qajar period but the southern rooms and areas are the oldest part and they are 120 years old.

Mula sadra House:

Muhammad Ebn Enrahim yahyaei shirazi known as Mula sadra, the founder of philosophy. He is one of the Islamic and greatest scientists of the world in divine and . He was born in L.H. 979 or 980 in .

The House of Mula sadra in Kahak is a memorial building of the time, this divine philosopher, lived in QOM province. This historical building is located on the west of kahak in a district called chall Hamam, and it surrounded by village houses. In the main plan of this building, there were some bed – chambers around it on the four corners (first floor, and second floor) and it also contained some rooms.

59 4-2-11 The castles

QOMrud castle:

QOMrud has two castles, one of them belongs to safari period, and now it is used as sheepcote.

Another castle was made by Mirza Nazam Qafari (Mohand es – Al – Mamalek).

The castle includes two floors, one pool, ventilation, and a small market.

Mozafar Abad Castle:

Mozafar Abad Castle is located on the east of QOMrud village. This is one of works of Mirza

Nazam Qafari. He made this castle for his son. This castle has five towers that four of them are located in the four corners and one is located in the center of eastern side of the castle. The castle has two backyards and there is a bathroom next to the castle entrance.

Malek Abad Castle:

Mirza Nazam Qafari made this castle for his daughter. There is only a small part of castle remained today. From the reminders we can understand that the castle was made of muddy bricks, and mud and it has four towers in the four corners and one mill.

Some other castles of QOM are: SamAbad castle, Red castle (Qermez), (Golizarbalagh castle),

Tuqrud hill castle, Jamkaran castle (Gabri castle), GhanborAli castle, Ghizghaleh – sei Jamkaran castle, Shirin ghaleh castle, (Mansor Abad).

The Caravan series Huze – Sultan Caravan series

This caravanseri is located in the central division, east of salty spring, north of Huze – Sultan

Lake on the old road of Qom to Tehran and it is made in Naser – Al – Din Qajar dynasty.

Deir caravanserai:

This caravanserai is 65 km away from south of Tehran on the old road of QOM to Rei which was one of the important ways of Iran. This building belongs to sasaniyan dynasty.

60 Pole – Dalak Caravanserai:

QOM – Tehran road, on the northern side of Masileh road and Dalak bridge, there are two , and the distance between Them is 30 meters, one of them is made of brick, and the other one is made of mud, and muddy brick.

Pasangan caravanserai

This caravanserai is 20km away from QOM on the QOM – Kashan road, and it is like square.

Pasangan has five verand as and there are four half – circle tower on the corners.

The caravanserai is decorated with brick works and it is one of the works of safavi and Qajar dynasties. There are two reservoir, one inside, one outside the caravanserai, Tourists like Moler and Davlafuva had visited this caravanserai.

Some other historical caravanserai of Qom are: Tinuj, Hasan Abad, safiAbad, sabri,

Kohnamak, Asqar Abad, Manzariyeh, Ali Abad, Baqer Abad.

Kaj Muhammad Abad stone caravanserai:

It is one of the most beautiful and largest historical buildings of QOM province, and it is 50 kilometers away from north – east of QOM on Kohe sefid road, and on the caravan road to

Khorasan, which also connected north – east of Iran to south – west of Iran. It belongs to saljuqi period, and it was repaired and used in other dynasties.

Some other historical works of QOMrud are as follows;

The six Emamzadeh (s.), Deirgachin caravanserai and Ali Abad caravanserai, that the 6

Emamzadeh who were the grand children of Emam Musa Kazem (s.) give a special beauty to this district

4-2-12 Bridges

Dalak Bridge is located on the old road of QOM – Tehran near Dalak caravanserai near

Qaresui River, and it belongs to safavi dynasty. It has 153 meters length, 6 meters width, and it has 18 openi Huze – Sultan Bridge:

61 Ali Asghar Khan Atabak ordered to make this bridge on Masileh Bridge beside caravan way of

QOM to Tehran, in L.H. 1262. The building of this bridge is like a spring with ceiling one small passage. The ceiling of this bridge is made of brick but the walls are made of stone and it doesn’t have any decorations.

Ali Khani Bridge

This bridge was made in safavi dynasty firstly, in L.H. 1292 then Ali Khan Sanghari removed the last openings and made the present bridge. This bridge is located in the city center of QOM, and it connects shahid Motahari square to Talaqani Street and Bazar junction.

4-2-13 Reservoirs

The natural situation of QOM province caused the people that for providing their drinking water make these reservoirs. So reservoirs had a special role in life of people. The oldest reservoir was made in L.H. 1055. The most famous reservoirs of QOM are chehel Akhtaran, Sadr Abad,

Mabarak Abad, Kohsefid, Kaj, pasangan.

LAB CHAL reservoirs:

It is located in Ammar yaser 45 meters street and according to the type of architecture and the inscription on the door, history dates back to L.H. 1238.

The other tourism and cultural heritage of kahak are as follows. Sarm mosque, the castle of sasani seiro, kahak cave, vashnaveh cave meyam guide pillar, Kermijegan four roofs the bathroom of Qubadbezan village, kahak reservoire Alborz, reservoir.

Kilometers. This division has two rural districts (Dasjerd and Qahan) and 64 villages

Rahjerd Reservoir:

This reservoir is located in Rahjerd village of khalajestan division which belongs to safavi dynasty.

Beside the historical roads of Iran, There are some special and tall pillars that can be seen from far away.

62 These pillars are called guide pillars, and they were made to guide the tourists in the historical and long desert ways. There are some guide pillars in Qomrud district which were formed in the historical and minor roads.

4-2-14 Guide pillar and historical hills

Safar Ali guide pillar:

This guide pillar is located on a mountain in the west of kaj village which is called spear

Rostam.

It has 6 meters height and seven meters width.

Babak guide pillar:

This guide pillar is located on the tallest Northern mountain of QOMrud valley, on the west of kaj village and it is 1/5 kilometers away from satarAli guide pillar. Meyam guide pillar:

This pillar is located in Meyam village.

Sarm Historical Hill:

This hill is located at the distance of 15 kilometers of south – east of kashan road in kahak division between Khutabad village and sarm village.

Some samples of Iron Age of Iran and gray pottery of were found here.

Nevis four – ceilings fire place is located in south of saveh in a mountainous region and it is 58 kilometers away from saveh in khalajestan division.

This four – ceiling building is one sample of the first four – ceiling buildings of sasani dynasty which was remained and used until the beginning of Islamic periods.

Some other tourism attractions of this region are as follows; the Holy tombs, shah Abbasi caravanserai, Tinuj historical Bridge.

(safavi dynasty), vetus kohand an castle, chek castle.

Qareh Tapeh historical Hill:

This historical area is located in south – west of Qomrud village, which is the center of Qomrud rural district and it is 25 kilometers away from QOM and it is located on the north-east of Qom.

63 Some works which were found in this hill are as follows; bony awl, baked clay pot, jars, baked clay dishes, which all belongs to 5000 or 6000 years B.C.

4-2-15 Handicrafts:

Handicrafts are a symbol of culture and tradition, and are a representation of Art of the people. For this reason handicrafts have a very close relationship with the economy of the country.

So, perception of handicrafts and art is not fix, and similar in every countries. In industrial countries, it is more artistic but in third – world countries, handicrafts are common in villages and cities.

QOM has limited agricultural activities because of its desert. So, the most important economical activities of Qom are handicrafts. The most famous and common handicrafts of Qom province are as follows;

Carpet:

The most common handicrafts of QOM province is carpet weaving nowadays, these valuable arts are the occupation of thousand s of people.

Wood engraving and carpentry:

The wooden handicrafts of QOM artists are as follows. Engraving on tombs, boxes, the gates of

Holy shrine, and engravings on the legs of tables and chairs that are produced from good wood.

The coverage of mirror hall of the holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) and the gate of great

Arcade of QOM market are some samples of this art. The carpentry products of QOM are distributed in different cities of Iran.

Pottery and ceramic making

The existence of good clay has flourished ceramic making pottery, brick baking in Qom. The products of this industry are made with pottery machine and hand, then they are baked, painted, and engraved, then they are covered with good glaze.

64 Glass bead making:

The first beautiful glaze of human civilization dates back to 6000 years ago. In Iran glass beads are made of silica and they are covered with copper oxide, and other overages. Nowadays glass beads are produced only in QOM. These artistic handicrafts are used and accepted as the luck beads, but the glass bead makers were not successful in finding markets.

Stone cutting and stone engraving:

This industry contains: different types of stones, like turquoise, marble, jasper, and white and black stones and the artists cut and engrave, the stone by equipments and tools. QOM province enjoys half – precious and various stone mines which is a good situation for the production of stone decorating products.

Designing and paintings:

It is one of the decorating arts, that the artists design imaginative and Islamic pictures and also they design geometrical, knotting, animals, flowers, birds' pictures. And then they paint them.

Wood engraving traditional weavings, traditional paintings, glass making, ring making, material decorations, traditional binding, architectural decorations, pearl weaving, carving wheat diaphoretic, vegetable dyeing, diaphoretic works Lock making and door curtain making are some of the handicrafts of QOM province.

4-2-16 Souvenirs:

Sohan (a local candy):

This is a special candy of QOM which is made of , , oil, , and . Sohan is one of the most famous candies of Qom province that its history dates back to Nasrudinshah

Qajar dynasty.

Sohan of Qom is exported to different cities especially large cities of Iran and different Arab countries. Some other souvenirs of Qom province are as follows; prayer stone (Mohre – Namaz),

65 rosary, prayer rug, wooden, and plaster handicrafts, diaphoretic of tiles, baked clay dishes, ceramic things, wood industries, wood engraving, basket weaving, silk carpet, mat making, light shoes making, and eatable thing are fig, , sauce, , and sweet paste. QOM has the second position after Tehran from the viewpoint of book publications therefore; the people who are interested in studying (especially religious books) get their books in their trips to QOM.

4-3 Natural attraction of QOM province.

Natural attractions of QOM province aren’t apart from the tourism and cultural heritage attractions which will be explained in chapter two, but because of its extent, it is discussed as a part of natural geography.

The green nature, Forest with strong trees, blue seaside's are beautiful and with salt, hills, moving sand and beautiful nights with lots of stars are very much interesting for Europeans, people of East Asia, North America because they don't have this divine blessing in their countries.

The wide region of desert is considered as one of the greatest and most important ecological regions of Iran which has animals and planet verities.

Desert national park covers an area of 600/000 hectares in south-east of Tehran and some parts of QOM province.

4-3-1 Salt Lake:

This lake which is a part of Iran salt desert is located in east of QOM. This salt lake has water only in winter and in summer is dry and the slices of salt are very interesting.

The geometrical shape of salt is very much attractive in sunrise and they are very interesting sights for the visitors. When it is windy the great sand heap moves like the waves of sea.

4-3-2 Huze- Sultan Lake

This lake covers an area of 330 square kilometers from west to east, and it is located in the north west of salt lake and north of Qom province.

66 This lake was known as Qom Lake. Shahi lake, Saveh Lake. Huze- sultan lake make various and beautiful landscapes in different seasons and different hours of day.

Huze sultan lake includes two separate hollows which are called huze sultan and huze Mareh, but they are called huze-sultan. The water which flows to this lake is temporary and as it is crossing the salty area it gets very much salty. This lake after Islam and around the 19th century had a lot of dry and wet periods. And because of the changes in channels of Masileh River or salty river to the lake, it is changed to Lake Desert or swamp.

In safaviyeh dynasty as the dam was constructed before Dalak bridge which directs Qarachi river to salt lake, the Huze-sultan lake and salt lake have been disconnected. In L.H. 1262 the two separate parts of Huze-sultan come together and make a big lake.

QOM – Arak – south railroad

QOM – Kashan – south railroad

The people of QOM like the other people of Iran followed Zoroaster, Before Islam.

The existence of Navis, kermijegan, langarud, and chahak fire places confirmed this idea.

According to the historical documents people of QOM embraced Islam from the entrance of Islam to Iran, they has been the followers of the innocent Emams.

4-4-2 Tourism Facilities and Equipments of Qom province

Equipment and facilities of tourism nowadays, the great fundamental facilities in taking tourist who are looking for ancestor's cultural information and knowledge is the road. So that the road can be the main economical way of a country that can also play the main role in exchanging people of a country's culture and cultural background to those who are fond of treasure that are left as a memorial from ancient times. The road not only is effective in introducing archeological works, but also it has an important and determined in different countries continuous recognition of those places.

67 Qom demand ed to its geographical position which is located near the inner desert of Iran and along side to the south of Tehran (Ray) was the main way to east-west highway (Tabriz, Zanjan,

Qazvin, Qom, Tehran, Semnan, Damghan, Neishabor, Tos, Harat) and North-South highway

(, , Ray, Qom, Kashan, Esfahan, Shiraz and ) and it was the main way for a lot of tourists who have left some works about the North-half of Iranian plateau who have left as memorial and most of them should pass those roads. In Pahlavi Period, Qom like other cities began to develop. In this period civil development of Qom continued slowly. The first streets were built in 1921. After that the railroad passed Qom in 1937. Since 1965, communicative roads between cities were developed to Tehran from one side and to Arak, Esfahan, and Kashan from the other side. Nowadays, Qom is very important regarded to being near to Tehran and being located in the center of Iran and being near to communicative roads. An important free way is

Qom-Tehran free way. In addition, the important roads of Qom-Isfahan, Qom-Kashan and Qom-

Arak are important communicative ways to other part of country. So that, these main ways of country caused Qom to play a main role as a communicative ways of Qom. Qom-Tehran railway which is continued into the city is divided to Qom-Arak and Kashan, Esfahan and branches.

Table (4-1); the number of rail roads and the length of different rail roads and the number of stations:

THE LENGTH OF THE THE LENGTH OF INDUSTRIAL YEAR LENGTH OF NUMBER OF MAIN RAIL AND MINOR RAIL STATIONS (KM) COMMERCIAL

1985 165 61/8 11 7

1990 165 61/8 11 7

1995 165 61/8 11 7

2001 307 64/8 35 10

Table (4-2); all kind of roads within the realm of department (transportation):

68 Year Total Freeway Main Wide Ordinary

way main way main way

1985 18 52/5 69 43/3 63/5

1990 8 52/5 69 43/3 63/5

1. Statistics sheet of transportation and termination organization of Qom, page15, 1382.

2. Statistics sheet of transportation, page16.

Table (4-3); the number of legal of condition of travelers' transportation companies in Qom:

The number of cooperative Private ownership State ownership companies ownership

18 17 1 0

Table (4-4); the number of legal condition of goods transportation companies in Qom:

The

The name of Qom number of Private Cooperative State

divisions total ownership ownership ownership

companies

Qom 26 25 1 0

Salafchegan 4 3 0 1

Jafarieh 2 2 0 0

According to the report of transportation and termination organizations of Qom, the number of city tour is reported, internal tour of province are as follows:

69 The number of city tour is reported as3117 and the number of travelers is 44977 and the number of internal tour is 109/128 and the number of travelers is 2772563.

Table (4-5); the number of city tour, domestic tour.

Travel Travelers Travel Travelers Total Total

in the city in the city out of city out of city travel travelers

3117 44977 128109 2772563 131226 2817540

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Travel Traveler Travel Traveler Total Travel Traveler (bus) (bus) (minibus) (minibus) travel

67049 2163474 31458 523993 32519 130073 131226

Table (4-6); the number of travel and travelers in 2002:

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

The table 4-6 shows the number of travel and travelers that their beginning is Qom and this table can indicate the number of tourists who come to province. According to report of transportation company and termination of Qom in 2003:2250000 people entered the Qom and

2817540 people went out of province and of course 35000 peoples were displaced inside Qom.

Qom province, regarding to the number of internal tour was in the sixth grade after Tehran,

Markazi, Khorasan, Eilam and Hamedan and concerning to the number of travelers was after

Tehran, Markazi, Khorasan and Esfahan.

1. Salafchegan- Arak

2. Making electronic Tehran-Qom railway

70 3. constructing two purposes small free way Qom-salafchegan

4. constructing Qom-Salafchegan free way

5. constructing new and first level Qom-Garmsar free way which is under

construction

6. constructing new and second level Qom-

7. completing outer ring way

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Health and remedial facilities is also one of developing index and public welfare which has important role in developing tourism system. In Qom province according to provincial statistics sheet, there are eight hospital and maternity hospitals with 992 beds. Also there are 87 clinics which 70 of those are in the city and 8 of those are in rural areas.

4-4-1 Accommodations and serving Facilities:

Qom contains 23 hotel apartment and 37 hostels and 3 hotels and totally installations and servicing beds in the rooms are 1502 and the number of beds are 3254, by the way, the number of rooms and beds are less than previous years. Its because of Imam Khomeini's square plan which some of the hostels are destroyed. (There were 40 beds). Also concerning to classification, there is one third class and 6 second class and 2 one class hotel and Qom international hotel is also in the

Imam Khomeini's plan which should be destroyed.

Table (4-8); Accommodations of Qom in 2006:

3500 Number 3000 Total room 2500 Total bed

Source: cultural heritage, 2000 Total suite

handicrafts, and tourism organization of 1500 Total Personnel

Qom Province 1000 First Class

500 Second Claas

0 Third Claas Hotel Hotel Hostel Motel Total Apt. Fourth Class 71

The following tables say the cost of a room in hostels and hotels of Qom based on the latest information of the nooroz of 1384. For the final calculation of costs 2 percent municipality taxes is considered.

Table (4-9); the cost of rooms in hostels of province in 2005 in USD.

120

100

80 Cost of room (1bed) Cost of room (2bed) 60 Cost of room (3bed) 4 40 Cost of room ( bed) Cost of room (5bed) 20

0 One star Two star Three star

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Table (4-9); the cost of rooms in hotel of province in 2005 in USD.

60

50

40

30

20

10 Three star 0 Two star One star Single One star Double room rate Extra bed room rate Two star rate Three star

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

72

4-4-2 postal and transmition facilities:

One of necessary means in tourism development is postal and transmission communications. So paying attention to this part is very important in the planning of tourism industry development.

On the other side postal and transmission communications system is considered as one of important indexes of development.

There was one main post office and 22 civic post offices and 4 rural post offices and one civic post booth and 18 rural post and transmission office in 1381.

The numbers of civic post boxes were 218 and the numbers of rural post boxes were 76.

The postal units that gave postal services were 55 express delivery and 10 financial posts, 10 visual posts and one telephone post in 1381. It's worthy to say that about 60 percent of total presses of country are sent around the world from Qom. From the view of transmission facilities, there were 213925 immovable telephones and in the same year the numbers of civic public telephone were 9591 and long distance telephone were 322. 195 rural parts have telephone communication on the year.

4-5 bank facilities in Qom:

The numbers of banks in Qom were totally 215 until the end of 1381 from which 42 were

Tejarat bank and 26 Sepah bank and 11Refah Kargaran bank and 30 Export Development bank, 20Agriculture bank, 7 Maskan bank and one Export Development bank.

In this year the numbers of accounts in the bank were totally 1737910 and amount of investment were 3846716 million Riyals.

73 At the end of this part, we talk about statistics of parks and playground, because they are used by tourists extensively.

Table (4-10): the number of parks and their extents:

City Number Extent(Hectare)

Qom 50 187

Kahak 1 2

Qanavat 7 6

Dasjerd 1 1

Jafariyeh 3 8/2

Total 63 193/5

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Table (4-11); the extent of playground of Qom in 2003:

City Extent(hectare)

Qom 7300

Kahak 2

Qanavat 0/6

Dasjerd 0/45

Jafariyeh 11

total 7314/05

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

4-5 effects of tourism industry in Qom:

Tourism is one of the sources of making variety. On one side, every kind of development will necessary with variety. So tourism and its development will surly have positive and negative direct and indirect tangible and intangible quantitative and qualitative.

1. The third five year economical and social and cultural development program.

74 Effects of tourism which are displayed in domestic tourism gross production, added value of tourism, the income of international tourism and tourism financial balance sheet and … , quantitative variety effect is also related.

4-5 Quality and Quantity of tourism:

According to statistics from Iran touring and tourism organization, 482128 domestic tourists and 111779 international tourists entered Qom and stayed at residences.

In the year of 2006, the most part of domestic tourists entered Qom in spring and April but the most parts of international tourists entered Qom in summer and July.

As it was said Qom is main communicative way in Iran, that is why many tourists come to

Qom, but don’t stay at residences, and just stay for a few hours. Its reasons are explained in the following parts. The statistics of these tourists is noticeable.

First in the recent years, the conditions of serving and intercity welfare complexes are improved. It has a great effect on making employment, and travelers are satisfied with their services.

Figure (4-1) times of travel to Qom province:

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% First Time Second Time Third Time More 3 times

75 Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

4-5 characteristics of tourism in Qom:

For better understanding of tourism effects on economical changes in Qom at first, it's necessary to recognize main characteristics of incoming tourists and then search how they effect on their economical parts directly or indirectly and gradually cause changes in other areas.

4-5 the common goal of pilgrim:

According to studies, 80 percent of travelers enter Qom to pilgrim Hadrat Masomeh, Holy shrine sons of imams and holy places. The studies show that main goal of most travelers is religious and it has various effects on what unreligious tourists can have on economical areas. As it is known, tourists demand s are different, regarding to different taste which all economical factors like income and cost also the effect of uneconomical factors like tourist's religious goal, there is potential and fixed demand for religious tourism to pilgrim religious places, in spite of changing in other factors which effect on tourism demand . So, based on religious tourism condition of Qom which is the second religious tourism pole

after Mashhad, absorbs 1000 of pilgrim from Pilgrim

Seeing historical Places

Iran and other countries. Visiting their Families

Job mission

Figures 4-2 goal of traveling to Qom.

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province The belonging of most tourists to the middle class income those traveling to Qom tend to stay at cheap residences. Further more, Qom tourists who travel with religious motive and with the goal of pilgrimage are on average and low income class from the social point o view.

76 4-5 4-12: short term residence:

The third characteristics of those tourists entering Qom, is this short –term residence. The residence of tourists is at the average of one day and night for domestics and 5 days and nights for international tourists. About four million tourists who we call them "passing tourists" stay at

Figure (4-3) Length of stay in Qom

Source: cultural Less the 12 hours One Day heritage, handicrafts, and 2 Days More than 3 Days tourism organization of Qom Province

Qom less than one day and night. They tend to be at Hadrat Masomeh Shrine or Jamkaraan holy mosque on weekdays. (The night before Wednesday or Friday or religious occasions) and perform the special acts to do.

4-5 Qom international tourism:

On the contrary to this claim that the world is not familiar with Iran and has no information of it, international tourists especially in cultural tourism area know Iran as an old and historical country very well.

Undoubtedly, today the country needs tourism industry more than before concerning enormous oil incomes. The news of joining of Iran to The World Trade Organization as the supervisor, bounds the sick to have a fundamental look at this industry to leave from single product economics on one hand and to make a balance in paying balance sheet on the other

hand .

In this area paying attention to the countries of this region good and they plan their travel based on these occasions

77 4-5 4-14: tourism seasonality:

Tourism seasonality is considered from two aspects. First, people usually take a trip during their leisure time and holydays and it is applied in all kinds of tourism like summer vacations or

Norooz. The second aspect which is just applied in religious tourism is that many people take a trip to do well by being at Hadrat Masomeh Holy shrine or Jamkaran holy mosque in special occasions, like Imam's mourning days, Ashra, Tasoa. The fifteenth of Shaban, which are variable because of the difference between the lunar and solar years. So, they are considered as a tourism season for religious tourists.

There may be the first and fundamental step. By 2020, according to anticipations the number of tourists will be 1.6 billon people in the region and 0/4 billon people who take long-distance trips.

Qom hosted 1300 international tourists in the norooz of 2005 that a small part of them were regional tourists. Qom international tourists in the norooz of 2005 that a small part of them were regional tourists. Qom international tourism in comparison with the few passed years has a considerable improvement, but it still has a long way to the desired minimum.

In this research it is tried examine this matter by close observance and talk with international tourists. For international tourists, Qom is an interesting place especially after the revolution in

1978, when this city got a strong religious and cultural role but the province containing rich natural and cultural attraction was unsuccessful in absorbing tourist and especially international tourist. We asked some international tourists about the reason of this problem. Tourists who were asked were cultural tourists who were fond of religious ceremonies which are held in the province and came to Qom to visit such ceremonies and get familiar with the culture of people who live in a religious and cultural city. Being asked about native's encounter and the culture of accepting tourists, they said that we had tried to gather some information about the province and its people and did our best to be in accordance with the values of city. From their point of view that had a

78 special respect for the culture of city, not having enough knowledge of tourism industry and not having a culture about this matter in the province is the main factor in unsuccessful tourism.

Lacking of appropriate tourism facility in historical areas, facilities for resting and serving, unavailable appropriate drinkable water in every place, and lacking public W.C. and toilets are some problems in historical places from the international tourist's point of view. Long roads and nonstand and roads on the wet of province is a big problem for those wanting to travel to those areas.

International tourist's opinion about religious attraction of the province which is of the most important attractions is considerable.

Some tourist said that we were very pleased of being in places that have people from different groups all day long and we pray with them but we are not very peaceful at such places. From one hand the environment is very heavy and people are staring at us and authorities control us, on the other hand. We are forbidden from entering to some places.

These tourists expressed their regret at tourism facilities of the province specially Qom city and asked "why they are the minimum tourism facilities and equipments regarding to having more than one million population and its special religious and cultural position and also being near

Tehran".

Here we point to the search on some activities which is done to flourish international tourism, because it is of most importance.

1. Information before the trip: the tourists should have information about Qom and its special position.

2. Interpretation at the place: when the tourist enters they should get familiar with native and religious culture of Qom, even though they have collected some information before taking a trip.

79 3. Social marketing: in tourism advertisement, one responsibility of marketing is to ring the voice of host in the ear of tourism marketing.

4. Marketing some opportunities for cultural contact which is an important step in the relation between cultures.

5. Citizen's participations in tourism planning.

6. Skill training to solve disturbance.

If economical tourism benefits are distributed well, they can improve people's life level which is a step toward development.

New social groups will appear by tourism development in the province schools will increase and following the exchanges between local people and tourists, the families’ structure become new and woman and youth will gain a new kind of development within the framework of this structure.

80

The House of mulasadra, Kahak Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom

Aliabad stone caravansari, saljughi dynasty,(1069 – 1164 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province 81

Shirin Balagh historical bridge , (1069 – 1164) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom

Kahak Cave Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

82

Aliabad guide pillar,saljughi Dynasty (109 – 1164) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism

organization of Qom Province

Nuruz festival, (The beginning of new yaer) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism

organization of Qom Province 83

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourismSource: cultural

Meyam guide pillar,saljughi Dynasty

organization of Qom Province

(109 – 1164)

Tayighan bridge, safaviyeh Dynasty, (1526 – 1756)

84

Khorabad historical Hill – Sasanian dynasty (1069 – 1164) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of

Nevis Fire place, sasaniyan Dynasty (845 BC – 1273) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

85

Deir ghachin caravansary,Sasaniyan- safaviyeh Dynasty (845 BC – 1756 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom

Sadrabad caravansari,(1526 – 1756 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

86

Deir ghachin caravansari ,Sasaniyan- safaviyeh Dynasty

(845 BC – 1756 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom

Ghareh Tapeh Historical Hill (6000 BC)

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

87

Jahangirkhan School, safaviyeh and ghajariyeh ( 1526 – 1965 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism

organization of Qom Province

Great Arcade of Qom market, (1922) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

88

Qom Old market, (1922) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Qom jame mosque,saljughiyan Dynasty,(1069 – 1164 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

89

Two brothers mountain Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Jamkaran Holy Mosque Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

90

Emam zadeh Ali-Ebn-E-Jafar(a.s.),(1361)

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Holy Shrine Of Hadrat Masoumeh(s.),Saljoghiyan- Safaviyeh – Ghajariyeh,(1069 -1526 – 1831 ) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

91

The Beauties Of art in Holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (s.) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Tile Works In the Holy Shrine Jafar(a.s.),(1361) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

92

Silk carpet Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Quran Attributed To Emam Reza (a.s.)(624) Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

Handicraft (Glass) 93

Beautiful View Of Huze – Sultan Lake(Qom)

Huze – Sultan Lake

Sanjegan Dam

Source: cultural heritage, hand icrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

94

Beautiful Views of Desert Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism

organization of Qom Province

Beautiful Views of Desert

Beautiful Views of Desert Source: cultural heritage, hand icrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

95

Khalajestan Summering Regian

Beautiful View of Kahak

Source: cultural heritage, hand icrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

96

Khalajestan Summering Regian

Kahak Summring Regian

Source: cultural heritage,

hand icrafts, and tourism

organization of Qom Province

Handicraft (Pottery)

97

Souvenir, Sohan (A local candy)

Source: cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization of Qom Province

98

Chapter five:

99 5-1 Limitations and Problems of Tourism Development:

Tourism development of this province faces some obstacles. Some of these obstacles are because of undevelopment, and moreover it is related to cultural and social situations which are the infrastructure of tourism development. Economical factors like investment shortages, lack of skillful manpower equipment and services are the fundamental obstacles of tourism development. the assumption that all tourist have negative and harmful effects for society and culture, has negative effects on thought and traditions of society and this idea has been evaluated by psychologist, sociologist and experts. It is confirmed that economy with one product will be very weak in production and usage. It will cause lack of success in selling internal products to foreign markets. Export promotion like tourism development needs cultural, social, and economical development. Meanwhile, lack of equipment and services will affect on undevelopment a lot. In eastern countries, social and mental problems can not be solved and solutions of economical obstacles need more time. Economical tourism development obstacles are the same obstacles for economical development in the country. Privatization problems, market fund limitations, lack of commercial and export strategies are some of the problems of tourism development. Economical stability is the subcategory of political and social stability.

5-1-1 lack of statistic and information:

One of the main and fundamental equipment in planning studies in all economical, social, and cultural dimensions which have very important role in statistics and information. Statistics show the present situation well, meanwhile, it clarifies the future needs of tourism. In Qom Province, unfortunately, lack of true and the same statistics makes problems for researches.

5-1-2 Tourism policies instability:

Tourism has been attracted as a very significant, effective economical factor in recent years.

The tourism policies changes are one of the most important tourism difficulties in Iran and Qom

Province. The tourism policies instability causes to reduce lack of private sector investment for tourism promotion. Government especially after the first master plan for development and

100 instability of oil price is studying about the ways to support tourism private sectors, but what should be considered by government is positive policies and decisions stability in tourism industry and lack of consideration will lead to tourism industry defeat.

5-1-3 Transportation problems:

Ways condition is one of the effective factors in tourism development in every region. So, investment is very important and necessary.

In Qom Province, except the city of Qom, many of the tourism attractions are in different parts of province that there are not good roads and transportations vehicles. As Qom Province is located on desert, it is possible to make the ways more attractive if the government grows trees according to the weather of province. Another problem is transportation vehicles shortage in holydays and high seasons which causes delay for tourists.

-lack of tourist guide sigh in Farsi and English next to tourism attractions is another problem for tourists.

-lack of parking around the Holy Shrine and Holy Mosque of Jamkaran.

-dangerous positions in many roads of province which cause accidents.

Lack of ring ways around the ways.

-shortage of rail transportation from Qom to other provinces and vs.

5-1-4 Lack of advertisement and official problems:

One of the fundamental problems in and Qom province is shortage of specialized advertisement and publicity of many significant attractions.

Tourism information about tourism attractions, hotels, tourism facilities, tourist rest areas inside and outside of the city in Farsi and English can promote tourism in Qom province. Because of the lack of advertisement, tourists are not informed about tourism significant attractions.

Advertisement and publicity by broacher, multi language tourist guide, book and CD, websites can help to develop tourism efficiently.

101 5-1-5 Problems and shortages of hotels, motels, tourism facilities in province:

Different ranks of hotels and tourism facilities according to the financial abilities of tourists are a very important factor in tourism. Qom province according to its great number of tourist has serious problems for accommodations. Lack of cheap hotels causes that many tourists have a very short stay in Qom. This problem also causes dissatisfaction of tourists. From the economical view point, Qom province could not enjoy this opportunities.

5-1-6 Lack of familiarization with tourism industry:

Negative assumptions of some people and governmental managers, lack of training and suitable public advertisement are some of the tourism problems.

Iran has not used the experiences of that have developed their tourism according to values and they have used the present sciences according to new methods.

5-1-7 Law problems:

Visa issuance, customs, and lack of tourism supportive law are some of the law problems. For example, visa issuance takes long time.

Fund shortages, unsuitable conditions for private sector investment and lack of

coordination between responsible organizations:

Funds shortage for developing and equipping, and implementation of tourism projects, reconstructions and guarding historical building and other cultural and artistic works is one of the main tourism development obstacles. Private sector because of lack of financial supports ownership guarantee, lack of profit, unsustainable policies and methods do not like to invest in tourism projects.

5-1-8 Shortage of skillful manpower:

Shortage of skillful manpower in governmental and private sectors is one of the important serious problems of tourism. Most of the people working these jobs are not trained or their specialty is not related to the job.

102 5-1-9 lack of knowledge about cultural heritage, handicrafts, traditions, and customs

attractions

Tourism areas of Qom province are not developed and there is only little equipment around them. These areas are not ready to receive tourists, and because of not participating in tourism markets, they did not have the opportunities to advertise about their cultural, historical, religious, and handicrafts attractions in other countries.

5-1-10 lack of planning and development strategies

Qom province has a very outstanding geographical situation. Qom province is located in the central part of Iran. Seventeen provinces land transportations are crossing this province.

If there is a professional, and clear and careful planning and strategies for development, this will cause to tourism development.

A fundamental and main way for development of Qom province is tourism, as it is mentioned in development master plan. Qom province should have a strategic program for religious tourism development.

5-1-11 The main tourism obstacles and problems:

The tourism problem and obstacles of Qom province:

1-lack of short term and long term tourism comprehensive plan

2-low investment in tourism projects

3-existence of several decision making organizations

4-lack of division between the private and governmental duties

5-lack of consideration to reconstruct of tourism attractions of Qom province

6-lack of tourism attractions advertisement

7-lack of new techniques for advertisement like websites, online reservation

8-shortage of training program for manpower of tourism industry

9-lack of law implementation and supportive regulations

10-lack of equipment and tourism facilities

103 11-lack of good services

12-negative assumption about tourism industry

13-lack of consideration to tourists’ need

14-lack of publicity for local people about the importance of tourism

15-existency of many problems for investment

16-lack of consideration to the present tourism sources and attractions

Strategies for tourism development:

5-2 Marketing strategies

5-2-1 Local, and national tourism development

Tourism attraction of Qom province has attracted many local and national tourists. Tourism development needs, internal tourism development, planning, and implementation of advertisement programs aimed at travel motivation in Iranians and international tourists. This implementation will lead to internal tourism development and in will pave the way for local investment participation in tourism projects.

5-2-2 religious tourism development:

It is better to attract international tourists from Muslim countries as we have a lot of cultural similarities and there are a lot of interests among religion and neighboring countries and Persian golf. As religious tourism, and Holy shrine, and mosques has a great role in tourism development.

5-2-3 Marketing in tourism destination countries according to national tourism master

plan of Iran:

If the government wants to advertise tourism attractions in different markets, they must invest a lot of money on propagation, and this might not be considered economical according to the ideas of some managers. It is better to invest on tourism destination countries according to cultural relationships and the nation similarities. To find new tourism markets, the interests of nation show considered and studied and according to the result the options should be selected.

104 5-2-4 number of tourists relations according to the tourism equipment and tourism

facilities and services:

For tourism development and marketing, the experiences of developed countries in tourism and capacity evaluation according to the present facilities help to promote tourism to preserve nature and tourism attractions.

5-2-5 Propagation and dvertisement of tourism attractions by internet and equipment:

Production and broadcasting of tourism documentary films in tourism destination countries is very effective on tourism development of province.

Establishment specialized and international channel in English and Arabic is very helpful for attracting tourists.

Establishment of local, natural, and international exhibition with UNWTO cooperation and tourism services suppliers for advertising Iran and Qom is very effective.

5-2-6 Asking the tourist idea about the services

The basis of planning for tourism development is having statistics and information about domestic and international tourists’ satisfaction, because tourists see the problems better, and tourism organization should evaluate the services delivering process from beginning to the end to find the weak points and the problems of tourists. Such an evaluation can support the present and future markets.

5-2-7 Considering tourism as an effective industry

If the decision makes consider tourism as an important industry, so this product like other industries will have production, distributaries, marketing and consumption. Marketing needs investing and advertisement of attractions, culture, and civilization. It should be considered that tourism in that destination for which group of people has been designed, because there is a direct relationship between motivation and income.

5-2-8 Developing communication with international tourism organizations and

participating in specialized conferences and seminars

105 Nowadays entering international market needs direct cooperation with international network markets. Therefore, government and tourism private sector should have close cooperation with international organizations. To develop tourism, people working in governmental and private sectors should participate in specialized conferences, and seminars to promote their knowledge.

5-2-9 Promotion of cultural division activities of Iranian embassies

Studies show that many of tourists do not have sufficient and correct information about the bright history, and culture of Iran. Moreover, in many western countries, they attributed our scientists to Arab, so it is suggested that embassies use professional experts to pave the way and reduce the time of visa issuance. They should also give complete information about tourism attraction of Iran and Qom province.

5-2-10 Museum development

Most of the cultural heritage of Iran and Qom are things that are kept in museums. It is clear that number of museums in comparison to number of tourists is very few, so establishing history, anthropology, traditional arts, and wild life museum is very necessary. Introduction of historical works will have correct reaction that will attract tourists who are interested in history and civilization.

5-2-11 Natural development (Ecotourism)

Finding ecotourism attractions and nature will bring opportunities which will attract interested people, and it will develop tourism development. Qom province is located in desert region of Iran, and it has many beautiful attractions, like Huze Sultan Lake, Salt Lake, and Masileh which will attract many tourists. Therefore, infrastructure development in desert is needed to develop ecotourism attractions. Qom also has good summering regions in Khalajestan and Kahak.

5-2-12 Traditional arts and social tourism development:

There are different groups of people, and tribes with various languages, dialogue, especial culture, traditions and customs that many cultural tourists would like to visit them. 106 5-3 Training strategies

5-3-1 Local and public training for tourism development

People and local associations should be familiarized with tourism industry, and they should know the personal and national benefits in tourism, and when they are informed, they will preserve tourism attractions and they will help tourism development. Tourism is an industry that does not belong to one group or one part of the city. Total cooperation of people is necessary, and many general people, managers, companies and organizations are engaged in tourism directly or indirectly so tourism organization should inform them participate activity.

5-3-2 Training for people working in tourism industry (hotels, motels …)

Manpower training is necessary because each tourist has his own interest, so people working in hotels, restaurants, tourism rest areas should learn their professional training. They should behave politely with tourism, because good behavior of people who are working in tourism sections is very effective for satisfaction of tourists.

5-3-3 Training specialized manpower

Training specialized and educated manpower can promote tourism correctly and expert can study and find weak points of tourism services.

5-4 Strategies for giving value to religious, cultural, historical, and ecotourism

attractions for tourism development

5-4-1 Increasing tourists length of stay strategy

Giving value means to suggest new ways and solutions to increase tourists’ length of stay.

It should be studied about the ways to make tourists’ trips more various and make it more interesting for them, because tourism is not only visiting tourism attractions and returning to hotel.

Giving variety to tourism activities and increasing tourism sources will result in tourists returning to that destination.

5-4-2 Recovering and developing tourism attractions 107 Using the tourism capabilities, potentialities and equipment properly, and establishing new tourism services areas will pave the way for tourists’ visit. Tourism attractions should be preserved well to receive tourists for years.

5-4-3 Infrastructure equipment development

Infrastructure equipment like roads, rail roads, airports, terminals, and hotels should be promoted.

Government should promote the road to tourism attractions. Infrastructure development is very significant in tourism development.

5-4-4 Establishing handicrafts, traditional arts production and distribution center

Establishing traditional arts and handicrafts workshops near the tourism attractions can increase tourists’ motivations for visiting that area.

5-4-5 Preparing cultural, social, and traditional exhibition

The way of living of villagers is very interesting for foreign tourists. Holding cultural and scientific tours will draw the attraction of many people. There are many people inside and outside the country who are interested in visiting local mourning and marriage ceremonies, games and entertainment.

5-4-6 Reconstruction of historical buildings and changing them to heritage and

traditional restaurants and hotels

Reconstruction and changing the usage of historical houses, cafés, caravansaries and bathrooms are very effective for tourism development. Reconstruction of such buildings especially those which are on the Silk Road (Shah Abbasi changed to Abbasi Hotel) are very effective and attractive for tourists.

5-4-7 Changing tourism to cultural, historical, and natural heritage supporter

Nowadays government and nations are trying to find something to present it to tourists as tourism product. Products that they are trying to attract tourists are as follow: historical

108 buildings, handicrafts, and traditional heritage of their country. Fortunately, Qom has a lot of attractions that can attract many tourists.

5-5 Organizational and officials strategies

5-5-1 Establishing one decision making organization responsible for tourism

development

Nowadays, countries that enjoy high credit have powerful private sector, and unified organizations. Tourism developed countries like France, , Italy, Greece, and some of Islamic countries, all of them have tourism management organization which has tow specifications:

1-tourism affairs higher council in highest level of ministries and vice president that fortunately this promotion from vice minister to vice president has been formed in Iran.

2-tourism private sectors in different public or private sectors have clear and exact activities in local, national, and international levels. Iran needs one specialized governmental organization to use and benefit from the experts to promote tourism. This organization should lead tourism and improve it with little quantity and high quality.

5-5-2 Establishing of tourism scientific research center

This center will study tourism in Iran and world. It will also search on foreign markets, and it will use the experiences of other countries in tourism. This center will search on countries and cities that are willing to travel to Iran and Qom. This center will evaluate tourism operations in all parts from beginning to the end to find shortages, and it will give solution.

5-5-3 Establishing advertisement and propagation council

This council contains representatives from governmental and private sector, and cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization will lead the council.

This council will make decision according to the cultural, historical, geographical situation of the province. This council will use all the capacities, capabilities and equipment to develop tourism and advertise culture, civilization and tourism attractions.

109 5-4 Law strategies

To develop tourism, we need supportive laws and regulations. Law can help the investors and people working in tourism industry to do their job well. Some of these supportive laws are as follow;

_ Banks should cooperate activity in tourism projects of private sector with low interest and long time repayment.

_ Municipalities, housing and urbanizing organization, land affairs management, and other related organizations should shorten their process to promote tourism.

_ Government should help the private sector in low season to reduce the private sector loss.

_ establishing one office in cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism organization responsible for tourism infrastructure, and finding lack of law.

5-5 attracting domestic and foreign funds for tourism projects

Supporting private sector will increase the benefits of tourism industry. Giving low interest loan and long term repayment, and using the experiences of successful countries are necessary.

Giving trading and customs fast services, financial services can help a lot. According to the similarities and common specifications of Islamic countries, first Qom should try to attract Islamic foreign funds or Islamic Development Bank for establishing tourism projects and infrastructures.

110 5-6 Conclusions:

Iran is among the first ten countries from the viewpoint of cultural religious and historical attractions and from the viewpoint of natural attractions is between the first five courtiers but from the 750 billion dollars. Iran from tourism is only 700 million dollars.1 While, there are some countries in the world that do not have so many attractions, but they use from every subject to attract tourist, and this effort shows that they understand tourists. And this effect shows that they understand the power of tourism. Surely, Tourism industry will not develop in Iran, if responsible people in government and private sector do not learn this science and techniques academically.

Government should support travel agencies, tour guides.

Technical managements, handicrafts sellers tourism, hospitality professors, students, planners and governmental administrators, because they have very important role in tourism development.

It is not possible to enter destination markets without knowing the specification and interests of tourists any operation without having about the market situation is wasting the fund sources and time. Approximately, the majority of tourism suppliers, operators, and tourism managements do not know the principles and new ways of marketing. If we are trying to get new market and new portion of tourism market of the world. We should improve our industry according to scientific principles studies and regional researches which are base on economy and international commerce. Tourism industry the same as other industries, needs planning, and these plans should predict future and suggest necessary action and operations to achieve the objectives. Tourism in every development or developing countries guarantees social and economical profits so that planning for development and removing obstacles and problems are very important.

One of the effective reasons that governments pay attention to tourism is the economic effects of tourism. Tourism is a series of new activities in society which activates on increasing job opportunities, income, preserving historical building and attractions as a source and economic

1- UNWTO 111 income which cause handicrafts development. Tourism is a wide industry and it will be very wider in next century. There is no doubt that other countries are also competiting to take more portion and income of tourism industry. Quality is one of the important factors that are in the center of competition quality promotion in all parts like transportation, accommodation and their services should be considered carefully. Policy makers should pay attention to these effects.

Everybody knows Islamic culture, is agreed with tourism and it doesn’t have any disagreements and there are many recommendation to develop tourism. From the 102 billion

Muslims, how many percents we could attract and how many percents of cultural tourism of non-

Muslim countries we have attracted? It is clear that Iran needs tourism development more than other time, so tourism development is changed to a must for Iran. Tourism development will have positive effects in province development and tourism will also develop culture of host and guest countries, and it will promote comfort and income of local people. To achieve this success tourism development, planning and management in all parts of tourism is needed. Tourism planning for Qom province is necessary in local and regional levels, which will results in religious tourism development.

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