WATCH: Kurdistan Region receives thousands of Iraqi tourists during Eid al-Adha

The Kurdistan Region continues to be the hub of tourism for many Iraqis during Eid al-Adha.
kurdistan24.net

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region continues to be the hub of tourism for many Iraqis during Eid al-Adha.

The tourism sector in the Kurdistan Region has been booming over the last two years, with most tourists visiting from central and southern provinces of Iraq.

During the first two days of Eid al-Adha, an Islamic celebration, dozens of thousands of Iraqi tourists visited the Region, according to the board of tourism.

Kurdistan is known for its beautiful nature and, due to its geographic location, cooler weather compared to other parts of Iraq.

Erbil and Sulaimani security checkpoints continue to receive many Iraqi tourists regularly.  

Due to security measures, hundreds of vehicles and buses spend a substantial time waiting in line at the checkpoints.

“I came all the way from Baghdad. It is my fourth visit to the Kurdistan Region. We enjoy the extraordinary nature and safety of this land,” Jamila Ahmed, an Iraqi tourist, told Kurdistan 24 on Friday at the Erbil checkpoint.

“It is true that we wait in line for a long time at the checkpoints, but we understand it’s for our safety,” she added.

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani has repeatedly mentioned that in addition to oil and gas, the government will promote the tourism and agriculture sectors as another source of revenue for the Region.

With a total population of six million, Kurdistan is home to over 1.8 million refugees and displaced persons who fled from Syria and the rest of Iraq following the emergence of the Islamic State in mid-2014.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Diyari Sheikha contributed to this report)