TEHRAN–A national exhibition of handicrafts and tourism opened to the public in the southern province of Kerman on Thursday.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Kerman’s governor Mohammad Mehdi Fadakar said this exhibition could promote and introduce the province’s capabilities in the fields of tourism, handicrafts, and cultural heritage.

Each city and village in Kerman province has its own attractions and capacities, but the tourism potential of this province has not been fully explored, he added.

One of the demands of this province is to be connected with the tourism triangle of Yazd, Isfahan, and Fars, he noted.

The province also welcomes and supports private sector investors in tourism and handicrafts fields, he mentioned.

The big and sprawling Kerman province is something of a cultural melting pot, blending various regional cultures over time. It is also home to rich tourist spots and historical sites, including bazaars, mosques, caravanserais, and ruins of ancient urban areas.

With 14 entries, Iran ranks first globally for the number of cities and villages registered by the World Crafts Council, as China with seven entries, Chile with four, and India with three ones come next.

ABU/AM