TEHRAN – Iran is set to highlight its tourist destinations, rich cultural heritage, cuisine and handicrafts in Qatar simultaneously with the AFC Asian Cup games for a month.

Organizers say the event will present a remarkable opportunity to showcase Iran's diverse cultural treasures and handcrafted wonders to a global audience, notably among football enthusiasts converging for the games.

The simultaneous staging of the exhibition alongside the Asian games offers a unique platform for football fans, players, and visitors from over 24 Asian countries to delve into Iran's rich tapestry of tourism hotspots and exquisite handicrafts.

Organized by the Touring and Automobile Club of Iran, Iran’s pavilion will be set up at Doha’s Katara Cultural Village from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, 2024, concurrently with the football games, which will involve 24 national teams.

Authorities responsible for the country's tourism and cultural heritage state that this opportunity must be effectively utilized. “The goal of this exhibition is to support and enhance the competitiveness of tourism and handicrafts.”

Therefore, it is anticipated that the AFC Asian Cup games would serve as a platform for gathering institutions beyond the realm of the sports industry.

Iran's pavilion in this exhibition will span 300 square meters. The exhibition plan includes zones and booths with a four-square-meter area and is limited to 12-square-meter stalls. 

According to organizers, the event is set to bring airlines, national and regional tourist offices, tour operators, travel agencies, hoteliers, online travel companies, artists, producers, and handicraft sellers under one roof to showcase their offerings to the participants of the Asian competitions.

Additionally, the exhibition comprises workshops, seminars, and informational sessions aimed at sharing knowledge and experiences related to the tourism and culinary industries and other sectors.

The participants in this exhibition can benefit from tax reductions, according to a resolution by Iran’s council of ministers, as one of the incentives for involvement in this program.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup will be the 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Asia organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It will involve 24 national teams after expansion in 2019, with Qatar as the defending champions.

On 17 October 2022, the AFC announced that the tournament will be held in Qatar. Due to the high summer temperatures in the Persian Gulf, the tournament was postponed to 12 January – 10 February 2024.

AFM