'Zakho Valley Tourism Project Largest of Its Kind in Iraq,' Says Prime Minister Barzani

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Zakho Valley Tourism Project, describing it as the largest project of its kind in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq and placing tourism at the center of the government's wider effort to diversify the economy.

Speaking at the ceremony in the Zakho Independent Administration on Oct. 25, Prime Minister Barzani said he expected the project to contribute to the development of tourism across the Badinan area and the wider Kurdistan Region once completed.

"I am very pleased to be with you today for the laying of the foundation stone of a strategic tourism project that is unique in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq and is the largest project of its kind," he said.

The Prime Minister thanked Marmontana Company and Haji Saman for their work on the development, as well as the Zakho Independent Administration for facilitating the project and seeking to attract investors. He also thanked the people of Zakho for their support and what he described as their care for their city and environment.

Prime Minister Barzani said the Kurdistan Regional Government, working with the private sector, had made tourism one component of its policy to diversify the Kurdistan Region's economy and expand sources of revenue.

He said the Badinan area has extensive natural attractions and the potential to become an important source of income while providing employment for local residents, particularly young people.

The Prime Minister recalled visiting several tourism destinations around Zakho earlier in the spring and said the condition of the surrounding environment had particularly impressed him.

"What pleased me most, believe me, was that I did not see a single piece of litter along the roadsides," Prime Minister Barzani said. "That deserves appreciation."

Environmental protection formed a recurring theme throughout the speech. Prime Minister Barzani said residents should benefit economically from tourism projects and treat visitors respectfully, while tourists should also respect the Kurdistan Region's natural environment and help preserve it.

He also connected future tourism development to the legacy of conflict in parts of Kurdistan, saying the natural environment had suffered extensive damage in previous periods and many villages had been destroyed.

Prime Minister Barzani said continuing tensions, war, clashes and instability in some border areas had prevented the reconstruction of certain locations.

"We hope that peace and stability will return to those areas as soon as possible," he said, expressing hope that they could eventually be incorporated into tourism development within the Zakho Independent Administration.

The Prime Minister said the Kurdistan Region's tourism potential was not limited to its mountains and natural landscapes, pointing to historical sites across Badinan and other parts of the Region.

He cited Duhok, Zakho, Amedi, Akre, Semel and Bardarash, as well as Erbil, Soran and Rawanduz, and specifically mentioned Shanidar Cave and the Erbil Citadel. He also referred to historical attractions in Garmian, Sulaimani, Rania and Qaladze.

Religious tourism could also play a role, Prime Minister Barzani said, noting that mosques, churches and other places of worship could attract visitors from both inside and outside the Kurdistan Region.

"Kurdistan is ready to place greater emphasis on the tourism sector," he said.

Prime Minister Barzani argued that expanding tourism would create jobs, improve living standards and encourage higher-quality services. The government, he added, should continue helping investors by facilitating licenses and providing assistance for joint projects where required.

He said government support had already included road construction and the expansion of digital services for both businesses and citizens. According to the Prime Minister, digitizing administrative procedures allows companies to complete requirements more quickly while reducing the time citizens need to complete routine transactions.

Prime Minister Barzani closed his remarks by returning to environmental responsibility, urging residents and visitors to protect tourism projects, avoid littering and maintain the Kurdistan Region's natural surroundings.

"For us, keeping the Kurdistan Region clean not only makes its natural environment more beautiful, but every inch of our land is sacred because enormous service, struggle and sacrifice have been made for it," he said, referring to those who lost their lives defending Kurdistan.

He also suggested a possible name for the project. Referring to the term used for a person from Zakho and the English phrase "Zakho Valley," Prime Minister Barzani proposed combining the ideas into the name "Zakholy," subject to the approval of those responsible for the development.

The foundation-stone ceremony came during a wider day of industrial, commercial and tourism activity in Zakho.

In separate Kurdistan24 reporting, Gohdar Shekho, Supervisor of the Zakho Independent Administration, said nearly 140 factories had opened in Zakho over the past five years, with six additional factory licenses recently issued. Shekho said the administration was seeking to diversify the local economy across industry, tourism and agriculture while generating employment.

Prime Minister Barzani also inaugurated the Golden Global Development project, a $20.155 million Nissan distribution and staff-training facility expected to create 357 jobs. Around 2,000 Nissan vehicles are expected to pass through the center each month after entering through the Ibrahim Khalil International Border Crossing before being distributed across Iraq.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated Motor Plex Iraq, a $15 million sports and tourism development planned across 89 dunams. The complex is set to include an automobile museum, a car-racing venue, a vehicle-testing area and an open-air restaurant, while creating dozens of employment opportunities.

Taken together, Sunday's projects reflect the development model Prime Minister Barzani outlined in his Zakho Valley speech: expanding tourism and private investment alongside industry and infrastructure, while linking economic diversification to employment, easier government services and protection of the Kurdistan Region's natural and historical assets.

This article was updated on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, at 12:54pm.