Kurdistan Region expects over 200,000 tourists during new year holiday season
"We expect a notable influx of tourists to Kurdistan Region's cities during the New Year holidays. Both private and public sectors have been making preparations since the beginning of this month," KRG Tourism Board spox. Abdul Majid told Kurdistan24.
Dec. 24, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan Region Tourism Board spokesperson Ibrahim Abdul Majid announced wide-ranging preparations for an expected surge in tourism during the New Year holiday season, building on last year's success that witnessed 200,000 visitors in a single week.
"We expect a notable influx of tourists to Kurdistan Region's cities during the New Year holidays. Both private and public sectors have been making preparations since the beginning of this month," Abdul Majid told Kurdistan24.
The tourism board has coordinated expansively with provincial directorates, independent administrations, and security forces to make entry procedures simpler and quicken the procedures, promising tourist processing times of under five minutes at checkpoints.
"Checkpoints are vital as they provide visitors with their first impression of our region," Abdul Majid explained.
While the majority of holiday visitors normally come from central and southern parts of Iraq, approximately 25 percent of annual tourists are international visitors.
The Kurdistan Region boasts 3,100 tourist facilities, including:
714 cafeterias
10 amusement parks
589 restaurants
599 tourism companies and offices
54 tourist complexes
460 hotels
282 motels
Addressing concerns about pricing during peak seasons, Abdul Majid revealed that special committees have been formed to monitor and regulate prices, with legal action planned against anyone who violates the law.
"Pricing is constantly a subject of tourist feedback, and we're taking steps to address these concerns," he stated.
The preparations include welcome teams at entry points distributing tourism brochures and maps, along with nonstop monitoring of tourist facilities in city centers to ensure service quality and visitor satisfaction.