Tourism, pilgrimage, handicrafts take center stage at Khorasan Razavi expo
By Leila Imeni
Staff writer
The 18th International Tourism and Handicraft Exhibition of Khorasan Razavi Province officially opened on Wednesday at the Permanent International Exhibition Center in Mashhad, with the presence of numerous national, provincial officials, and some consul generals. Spanning approximately 12,000 square meters, the expo features representatives from several Iranian provinces and will run until May 17.
This event results from extensive collaboration between the Provincial Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization and various trade associations. It offers a unique platform to showcase the tourism attractions, sites, and facilities of different regions, alongside displays of local handicrafts and tourist services.
Participating countries include Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Oman. A total of 490 companies and organizations from across Iran — such as travel agencies, health tourism operators, hotel equipment manufacturers, accommodation providers, handicraft producers, and souvenir vendors — are part of the expo. Their participation highlights the event's importance as a hub for knowledge exchange, networking, and promoting sustainable development in the tourism sector.
Speaking in an interview with Iran Daily, Deputy Head of Khorasan Razavi Province's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization for Tourism Affairs, Yousef Bidkhori, emphasized that this year's exhibition focuses more on tourism and hospitality topics. “Given the sector's significance, we deemed it essential to hold the event at a specific time each year for better planning and optimal results,” he said.
Thanks to recent collaborations with expatriate who are active in tourism sector in Mashhad, many foreign companies are participating, aiming to foster international connections and expand cooperation. The foreign participants mainly operate in pilgrimage and health tourism. Countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Afghanistan send visitors for pilgrimage or medical treatment — highlighting the importance of tourist exchanges between Iran and these countries.
"Currently, about half of the foreign tourists in Mashhad come from Persian Gulf nations, primarily Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. Additionally, visitors from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia seek medical treatment, contributing to the growing demand for health services in the region," Bidkhori noted.