ArmInfo. This year, applications for participation in the Armenian-Iranian culinary and cultural festival were received from 15 provinces of Iran. This was stated by the cultural attache of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia Mohammad Asadi Movahedi during a press conference on August 6.
However, given the restrictions in the format of the festival, only culinary experts and artisans from 5 provinces will participate from the Iranian side: Khuzestan, Esfahan Golestan, Kashan, Hamadan, as well as from Tehran.
According to him, Iran will be represented within the festival by three components: culture (national music, sports, exhibitions), crafts and cuisine. If in the first year of the festival (2022) 6 pavilions of the Iranian side were installed on the territory of the festival, then last year their number increased to 22. This year Iran will be represented by 30 pavilions.
"This is a large and important cultural event that will have an impact on strengthening Armenian-Iranian cultural ties. Our nations have much in common, and organizing such events will help us get to know each other better," said Mohammad Asadi Movahedi.
Chairman of the NGO "Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions" Sedrak Mamoulian spoke during a press conference about the traditional "Navasard" competition between chefs from Armenia and Iran, who will compete in three nominations: "Best Taste", "Best View" and "Best Presentation". The plans, as he further said, include making this competition international, inviting representatives of a number of other countries as participants and jury members.
Considering the experience of previous years, it is expected that at least 5 thousand tourists will visit the festival, most of whom are foreign citizens.
The festival will be held traditionally on August 10 in Sisian, from 16:00 to 22:30 in Sisak Nahapet Square. The event is held with the aim of forming a single regional tourism product between Armenia and Iran, strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two countries, preserving the development and popularization of cultural heritage, as well as forming the image of the Republic of Armenia and the Syunik region as a stable, safe and attractive tourist destination.
The next day, a scientific conference dedicated to Armenian-Iranian cultural ties will be held at the Yerevan History Museum.
The festival is organized by the Tourism Federation of Armenia and the public organization "Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions" with the assistance of the Tourism Committee, in cooperation with the administration of the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia, the municipality of Sisian, the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Armenia and the Consulate General of Iran in Kapan. It should be noted that according to the Tourism Committee, 69 thousand Iranian tourists visited Armenia in January-June of this year, which is 7% of the total number of international visitors who chose Armenia as a tourist destination. In annual terms, this figure has increased by 19%.
