Kurdistan Region Moves to Regulate Tourist Guide Profession
Soran begins licensing tourist guides under new Kurdistan Region tourism rules, requiring interviews, practical exams and more than 25 qualifications.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Tourism authorities in the Soran Independent Administration have begun interviewing applicants seeking to work as tourist guides, introducing a licensing process that requires candidates to pass two assessments before receiving permission to practice.
The initiative forms part of efforts to regulate tourist guiding in the Kurdistan Region, with officials seeking to prevent people from working in the profession without meeting established requirements.
Faisal Sadiq, Director General of Tourism in Soran, told Kurdistan24 that applicants must first complete an interview and then sit a practical examination. Failure at either stage means they will not receive a work permit.
Candidates who successfully complete both assessments will undergo specialized training in managing tourist groups, Sadiq said. The training is intended to prepare licensed guides for the responsibilities involved in accompanying visitors to tourist destinations.
The directorate has established more than 25 conditions for entry into the profession. Among the principal requirements are extensive knowledge of history, tourist attractions and national occasions, as well as having no criminal record and maintaining a good reputation.
Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to use digital systems and social media platforms effectively, reflecting the practical skills expected of guides working in the tourism sector.
Sadiq said the administration has not imposed a ceiling on the number of permits that can be issued. Anyone who meets the conditions and passes the required assessments can qualify to work as a licensed tourist guide.
That approach allows the number of guides to be determined by the pool of qualified applicants rather than by a fixed quota, while maintaining the same licensing requirements for those seeking to enter the profession.
The assessment process is already underway in several parts of the Soran Independent Administration. So far, the directorate has interviewed six applicants from Rawanduz and 21 from Choman, bringing the number interviewed in those two areas to 27.
Officials intend to extend the process to Mergasor, Khalifan and Soran in the coming days. No timetable for issuing the first permits or completing the practical examinations was specified in the announcement.
The directorate has also not disclosed how many of the applicants interviewed so far have advanced to the practical examination or completed the requirements for licensing.
Alongside the new professional standards, Soran's tourism authorities are preparing for the winter tourist season and the arrival of mountaineering groups.
The directorate has notified tourist destinations within its jurisdiction to make the necessary preparations to receive visitors during the season.
The licensing initiative and winter preparations reflect two aspects of the administration's tourism agenda: establishing professional standards for guides and preparing tourist destinations for seasonal visitors.