The nations are due to take part across the men’s and women’s competitions at the event, scheduled to be held in Uiseong in South Korea from November 5 to 12.

Hong Kong’s women’s team, as well as Qatar’s men’s and women’s side, are set to make their Pacific-Asia Curling Championships debuts, while Australia will rejoin the field after missing out on the 2015 event in Almaty, which unsuccessfully bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

China, defending champions Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea and New Zealand make up the women’s competition, while the men’s tournament also features Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, 2015 winners South Korea, New Zealand, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei.

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has also revealed a special mixed doubles competition will be staged before the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships ahead of the format’s debut at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

“The next two editions of the Olympic Winter Games will be in Pacific-Asia curling region - first in South Korea in 2018 and then in China in 2022 - and the increase in teams for the 2016 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships shows the popularity of curling here and the desire for our Member Associations to have the chance to compete in Olympic Games,” Hugh Millikin, WCF vice-president for the Pacific-Asia zone, said.

"After making their debut in this event last year I am pleased to report the Hong Kong men's outfit will be joined by their women's team this year.

“Also, after playing in the 2016 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship it’s a pleasure to have men's and women's teams from Qatar making their first appearances at the 2016 tournament.”

The teams who finish between first and third place at the tournament in the South Korean province will be granted the chance to compete in a special Olympic Qualification Event in December 2017 if they have not earned enough points at the World Men’s or World Women’s Curling Championships.

The WCF has confirmed an official website for the competition, one of the standout events of the year for players in the Pacific-Asia region, is due to be launched in the near future.