Tourism to Kurdistan on Newroz holiday up 4 percent from last year: official
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region witnessed a boom in tourist visits during Newroz when compared to last year, numbers revealed by an official on Thursday indicated.
Around 243,000 tourists entered the Kurdistan Region over the ten-day holiday period starting on March 12, up four percent from 2018 within the same timeframe, spokesperson for the region’s Board of Tourism, Nadir Rosti, told Kurdistan 24.
The Kurdistan Region is a frequent destination for Iraqis and other people from neighboring countries, with an enviable natural landscape and fresh water spots that attract local and foreign tourists, especially in the sweltering heat of the summer months.
Rosti added that 73 percent of tourists were from Iraq’s central and southern provinces, while 16 percent were from Iran, six percent from Turkey, and the rest from other countries.
Although the numbers are higher compared to 2018, it is yet unclear if the trend continued through to the week following Newroz, as the region, as well as Iraqi provinces, was hit by heavy rainfall that led to floods across the country, limiting mobility and making it challenging to hold outdoor activities, such as picnicking.
With weather conditions growing milder as the winter season passes, the Kurdistan Region is expected to host more and more tourists this year, especially from other parts of Iraq, as stability slowly returns to the country.
As the Kurdistan Region’s economy is recovering, its tourism sector is also thriving. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) says it plans to diversify its economy by improving the private, agricultural, and tourism sectors.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani—speaking during a tourism expo event—affirmed that the KRG would help facilitate the development of the private sector in all areas, especially the tourism sector.
Seeking to boost the economy, the KRG “will rely first and foremost on the private sector to develop tourism,” in the region Barzani stated. He explained that the trials Kurdistan has experienced from 2014 to 2018—financial difficulties and war—restricted the KRG’s ability to fund projects to improve Kurdistan’s infrastructure and services.
Editing by Nadia Riva