“We expect 300,000 tourists to visit the Kurdistan Region during the New Year holidays,” Amal Jalal, the head of the tourism board, told Rudaw, with the Region’s provinces preparing festive activities for Christmas and New Year.
The bulk of holidaymakers visiting the Kurdistan Region for tourism comes from the southern and central provinces of Iraq, with the remaining tourists coming from countries outside of Iraq.
“According to the eight-year plan of our ministry, the number of tourists has increased year by year, and this year we expect more tourists than last year,” Jalal said.
A spokesman for Erbil’s tourism directorate said that the Kurdish capital has completed preparations to monitor tourist attractions in the city.
“We have made all the preparations and are monitoring tourist activities through the committees we have formed,” Nariman Fazel told Rudaw.
Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir echoed the same remarks for his province, telling Rudaw that “everyone is free to celebrate the New Year in any way” as all security and public services measures have been taken.
In Duhok province, which enjoys a colder climate, authorities are expecting an increased number of tourists due to snowfall.
“All preparations have been made to welcome tourists through a special committee,” Shamal Hirori, spokesman for Duhok’s tourism board, told Rudaw.
Over 7 million tourists visited the Kurdistan Region last year, according to data from the tourism board.
With its relatively more moderate temperature in comparison to the rest of the country, and the tremendous nature it has, the Kurdistan Region’s tourism has been a booming sector in recent years.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) plans to attract 20 million tourists per year by 2030.
