Kurdistan General Board of Tourism funds training center

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – In a recent attempt to develop the tourism industry in Kurdistan, the Kurdistan General Board of Tourism has founded a tourism training center for public and private sector organizations.

K24 reported that in 2015 the Kurdistan General Board of Tourism has devised a strategic plan for development of travel and tourism industry in the Kurdistan Region.

Mawlawi Jabar, the Chairman of the Kurdistan General Board of Tourism, pointed out that there is a large number of college graduates in economic administration and tourism at the opening ceremony of the tourism training center held in Erbil. He said despite the education provided in the universities and educational institutes, “government has not been able to utilize these human resources for development of travel and tourism industry in the region well.”

He believes the new center of travel and tourism training is capable of delivering the specialized human resources required for the development of this industry in the Kurdistan Region.

Nasrat Sabir, an expert in the travel and tourism industry, believes the government plan has not been effective to develop tourism into a common-wealth industry in Kurdistan. He says, “The income from the tourism industry is now directed toward individuals. It is not a national income.” Sabir added the government must come up with comprehensive plans to develop the tourism industry into a national source of income.

Kurdistan General Board of Tourism is an organization under the administration of Minister of Municipalities of the Kurdistan Region. According to its official website, the organization “aims at the provision of extensive information focusing on the Kurdistan Region, its civilization, culture, society and traditions.”