Omar Ahmad is an arts graduate who works at Enishke Cave in Duhok province’s Zakho. He aims to attract tourists and draw their attention by painting children’s faces, saying that the tourists enjoy his work.
“I paint on children’s faces and they love it. Tourists also enjoy it,” Ahmad told Rudaw on Monday.
Because of its beautiful natural surroundings, Enishke Cave attracts many tourists, especially during the summer. Most visitors come from central and southern Iraq.
"This place is like paradise and instead of going abroad, we come here so that our people can benefit. More attention should be paid to it. So far, only basic things are provided here and there are no necessary services," said Maha Jawhari, a tourist.
Zakho’s tourism directorate said that 25,000 to 30,000 tourists visit Zakho annually under normal circumstances, but they expect a staggering 50,000 tourists during the holidays.
According to the tourism board, millions of tourists visit the Kurdistan Region annually. Due to its relatively moderate temperatures and stunning natural scenery, the region's tourism sector has experienced significant growth in recent years.
The KRG aims to attract 20 million tourists per year by 2030.
