Soran Launches 5-Year Plan to Become 'Kurdistan's Tourism Capital'

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Soran Independent Administration has officially launched an ambitious, five-year tourism master plan designed to elevate its scenic destinations to a global standard, with the ultimate goal of becoming the tourism capital of the Kurdistan Region, according to the administration's top tourism official.

The implementation of the comprehensive plan, which is being carried out under the direct supervision of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, began last week with the renovation of the iconic Gali Ali Beg waterfall.

In an interview with Kurdistan24 correspondent Tayfour Mohammed on Sunday, Dr. Faisal Sadiq, the Director General of Tourism for the Soran Independent Administration, detailed the scope and vision of the project. "The goal of the master plan is to internationalize the tourist areas and increase the number of tourists," he stated.

According to Dr. Sadiq, the groundwork for this initiative was laid two years ago when a team from the KRG and the Prime Minister's office visited Soran. "The master plan was then prepared and designed to a modern, global standard by an international team of experts, under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister," he told Kurdistan24.

The first phase of the plan's execution commenced on Thursday, July 24, focusing on Gali Ali Beg. "This tourist site has been closed for several days for renovation," Dr. Sadiq explained, describing the location as "one of the most attractive tourist areas in the Kurdistan Region and serves as an identity for the Soran Independent Administration."

The Director General revealed that the full master plan is projected to take about five years to complete. Following the extensive work at Gali Ali Beg, the plan will extend to renovate other key tourist areas, including Bekhal, Balakayati, Sidekan, and Rawanduz.

Dr. Sadiq emphasized the crucial role of the Prime Minister's involvement, telling Kurdistan24 that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is "closely monitoring the implementation of the master plan, which has helped the work proceed faster and more effectively."

He elaborated on the Prime Minister's vision for the region: "The Prime Minister's goal is for the Soran Independent Administration to break out of its local framework, enter a more advanced stage, and be able to attract more foreign tourists."

In another part of his remarks to Kurdistan24, Dr. Sadiq expressed confidence in the region's potential, noting that the "Soran Independent Administration has the necessary environmental and historical foundations" to achieve global recognition.

The ambitious vision for the administration is clear. "It could even become the tourism capital of Kurdistan in the future, which, as he said, 'is our main dream and goal,'" Dr. Sadiq concluded.

The project builds upon a strong existing foundation. According to statistics from the Soran General Directorate of Tourism, the region's tourist areas have already attracted approximately one million tourists annually over the past three years. 

Kurdistan24 correspondent Tayfour Mohammed contributed to this report.