Kurdistan Region witnesses tourism boom as Erbil-Kirkuk road reopens

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region is witnessing a tourism boom as cities receive crowds of visitors from the south during the Eid al-Adha holidays, especially since the Erbil-Kirkuk road reopened.

From the checkpoint where travelers cross over into the capital of Erbil, hundreds of cars and buses enter the Kurdistan Region and head to the city center or the myriads of resorts boasting beautiful natural landscapes and activities.

To the delight of would-be travelers, a few days ahead of the Islamic “Festival of Sacrifice,” Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials reopened the Kirkuk-Erbil highway as construction of the new temporary bridge, replacing the one in Altun Kupri (Pirde) that was destroyed last October, was finalized over the weekend. 

“This is the first time we have come to Erbil since the reopening of the road,” said one tourist from Baghdad in his car, accompanied by his family. “I want to spend Eid days here for I have missed her [the city].”

Continued efforts by the Board of Tourism to raise the standard of services and availability of tourist resorts have made the region more attractive for domestic and foreign visitors.

Optimism in the region’s ability to receive tourists has led spokesperson for the Board of Tourism, Nadir Rosti, to predict that some 200,000 tourists would visit Kurdistan during the four-day holiday. He also affirmed that all directorates of tourism had been notified to apply the utmost care in welcoming guests as the sector continues to grow thanks to the security and stability of the region.

Iraq’s summer heat, which reaches up to 50⁰ Celsius mid-day, encourages people to travel to cooler areas and family-friendly tourist destinations in the northern semi-autonomous region.

“We are here in Erbil to have a good time,” said a girl named Zina to Kurdistan 24, adding “we came here from Tikrit [Salahuddin Province], to see the sweet atmosphere of Erbil,” the girl said with her mother beside her.

Kurdish security forces usually ease their strict measures on special occasions such as festivals and religious holidays to facilitate tourists’ smooth access to the region.

“Asayish (Kurdish security) are treating us with respect,” said Ahmed Ibrahim, a tourist from southern Iraq. “They treat us very courteously.”

Over the past few years, the KRG has made efforts to diversify its revenue sources by relying on tourism and agriculture instead of focusing on oil.

Editing by Nadia Riva