Doha, October 09 (QNA) - Tickets for AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 will go on sale starting Oct. 10, said the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the tournament at a press conference on Monday.

The press conference, attended by LOC's Marketing and Communications Executive Director Hassan Rabia Al Kuwari, Chief Tourism Marketing and Promotion Officer at Qatar Tourism Abdulaziz Al Mawlawi, and a host of local and international media representatives, said the tickets would be available on the LOC's website and the AFC website.

Al Kuwari said that prices for group stage match tickets start at QR 25 and can be purchased online through the official ticketing website. He added that the tickets would not be linked to entry visas to the State of Qatar, as was the case during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Staged from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, the tournament will be played on nine stadiums, seven of them were venues for the most sustainable World Cup Qatar 2022, the megaevent extolled worldwide as the best ever in FIFA history.

The opening and final matches of the event will be played at Lusail Iconic Stadium, which has grown into a sports legacy for Qatar, Al Kuwari said, hailing the cooperation between LOC and the AFC to produce an exceptional tournament.

Al Kuwari added that there is no need to hold any events or matches ahead of the awaited tournament with the World Cup serving as a leading and sufficient experience for the State of Qatar to organize high-level continental tournaments.

Chief Tourism Marketing and Promotion Officer at Qatar Tourism Abdulaziz Al Mawlawi said that Qatar achieved significant success during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, welcoming fans from around the world by connecting Doha to over 150 global destinations through the renowned Hamad International Airport, which has received numerous international awards.

He stated that Qatar and its tourist regions will be well-prepared to welcome fans during the AFC Asian Cup, adding that there will be various events, festivals, and exhibitions taking place coinciding with the tournament.

Al Mawlawi highlighted that over 50 hotels and resorts were opened in Qatar in 2022, and more are scheduled to open in the near future to provide diverse accommodation options for visitors attending the matches.

Regarding entry into Qatar, he clarified that it would not be linked to match tickets and stadium entry, as was the case during the FIFA World Cup, explaining that the "Hayya" card would be one of the means of entry, but it would not be tied to ticket purchases.

He pointed out that nationals from 95 countries will receive a visa upon arrival in Qatar, while others will need to apply for a visa in advance. He emphasized that there would be a wide range of accommodation options offered by Qatar Tourism and the LOC, in coordination with the participating teams' federations and the AFC.

Regarding the presence of a fixed fan festival as seen during the FIFA World Cup, Al Mawlawi stated that the FIFA Fan Fest was one of the FIFA requirements during the World Cup, but there will not be a fixed festival, but opportunities will be available to activate various tourist areas in Qatar as gathering places for fans, adding that Waqif Souq was not one of the locations that hosted a fixed festival, yet it had a significant presence in terms of fan attendance, especially outside the match schedules.

He emphasized that extensive efforts were underway to provide an exceptional tourism experience for fans visiting the country during the AFC Asian Cup, similar to what was achieved during the FIFA World Cup, with a commitment to achieving their goals. (QNA)