ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Up to 55,000 people from the Kurdistan Region travel abroad with tour companies every month – half of them to Turkey – according to data shared by local firms. But firms are still feeling the effects of the international flight ban on the Region’s airports, lifted in March.
There are almost 500 tour companies in the Kurdistan Region, according to data compiled by Tourism Company Association. A hundred of them are licensed by the government tourism body.
Popular destinations include Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Lawand Mamundi, manager of Fly Miran Company for tourism, said: “During the holiday season which starts in June through to mid-September, 2,000 to 2,500 people travel. That is, nearly 10,000 tourists travel annually.”
Many more people get their visas independently and travel by car or plane to Turkey or Iran. Up to 8,000 people travel this way annually.
“Nearly 45,000 to 55,000 tourists in the Kurdistan Region travel each year,” Lawand said.
“Nearly 50 percent of tourists travelling through tourism groups during the holiday season mainly go to Turkish resorts, and then by order to Egypt, Malaysia, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Singapore, and Tunisia.”
In response to the independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi government imposed a ban on international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaimani international airports on September 29, 2017.
Brwa Sahid Qadir, manager of Moon Line Company, said: “Because of halting 21 weekly flights by Turkish companies to Sulaimani and decreasing weekly flights by Turkish companies from 63 to 40 to Erbil, and people from provinces of Mosul, Sulaimani and Kirkuk using Erbil airport to fly to Turkey’s resorts, ticket prices have risen by 55 percent compared to last year.”
“Last year, the price of a return ticket to Istanbul was $380 to $420. Now, it is $900 to $1,000,” he added.
“The price of advance bookings has also risen by 40 percent compared to last year,” Brwa Sahid said.
“For this year’s holiday season, we had booked 40 seats daily from Atlas Global Company to Istanbul. Due to high demand, our seats are sold out until August 30. We have now booked some more seats for a higher price, by $100. That is why ticket fares for Turkey might rise to $850,” he added.
Brwa Sahid’s company flies around 1,370 tourists per week to Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Tunisia and other countries – a total of 5,480 tourists per month. He says up to 12,000 tourists are likely to fly during the holiday season through tourism groups.
“The cost of any tourist is no less than $1,000.”
Up to $10 million is spent on tourism through tourism groups every month.
The Dream Holiday Company was founded nine years ago, taking tourists to Turkey and Egypt. The number of tourists it flies out has increased by 22 percent.
Alan Akraye, manager of Dream Holiday Company, said: “Because Turkish flights to Sulaimani have been halted, Zagros Jet flights have been suspended, weekly Turkish flights have declined, people from provinces of Mosul, Sulaimani and Kirkuk fly via Erbil airport, fares of tickets to Turkey have increased a lot. That is why the fare for a one week journey through tourism groups to Istanbul and Antalya has increased from $550 to $750.”
There are almost 500 tour companies in the Kurdistan Region, according to data compiled by Tourism Company Association. A hundred of them are licensed by the government tourism body.
Popular destinations include Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Lawand Mamundi, manager of Fly Miran Company for tourism, said: “During the holiday season which starts in June through to mid-September, 2,000 to 2,500 people travel. That is, nearly 10,000 tourists travel annually.”
Many more people get their visas independently and travel by car or plane to Turkey or Iran. Up to 8,000 people travel this way annually.
“Nearly 45,000 to 55,000 tourists in the Kurdistan Region travel each year,” Lawand said.
“Nearly 50 percent of tourists travelling through tourism groups during the holiday season mainly go to Turkish resorts, and then by order to Egypt, Malaysia, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Singapore, and Tunisia.”
In response to the independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi government imposed a ban on international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaimani international airports on September 29, 2017.
The Iraqi government lifted the ban on March 15, 2018. However, for political reasons, Turkish flights to Sulaimani airport have not resumed and are limited to Erbil international airport. Ankara is using the ban to pressure the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)-led administration over alleged ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PUK), an armed group fighting for Kurdish political rights in Turkey.
Brwa Sahid Qadir, manager of Moon Line Company, said: “Because of halting 21 weekly flights by Turkish companies to Sulaimani and decreasing weekly flights by Turkish companies from 63 to 40 to Erbil, and people from provinces of Mosul, Sulaimani and Kirkuk using Erbil airport to fly to Turkey’s resorts, ticket prices have risen by 55 percent compared to last year.”
“Last year, the price of a return ticket to Istanbul was $380 to $420. Now, it is $900 to $1,000,” he added.
“The price of advance bookings has also risen by 40 percent compared to last year,” Brwa Sahid said.
“For this year’s holiday season, we had booked 40 seats daily from Atlas Global Company to Istanbul. Due to high demand, our seats are sold out until August 30. We have now booked some more seats for a higher price, by $100. That is why ticket fares for Turkey might rise to $850,” he added.
Brwa Sahid’s company flies around 1,370 tourists per week to Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Tunisia and other countries – a total of 5,480 tourists per month. He says up to 12,000 tourists are likely to fly during the holiday season through tourism groups.
“The cost of any tourist is no less than $1,000.”
Up to $10 million is spent on tourism through tourism groups every month.
The Dream Holiday Company was founded nine years ago, taking tourists to Turkey and Egypt. The number of tourists it flies out has increased by 22 percent.
Alan Akraye, manager of Dream Holiday Company, said: “Because Turkish flights to Sulaimani have been halted, Zagros Jet flights have been suspended, weekly Turkish flights have declined, people from provinces of Mosul, Sulaimani and Kirkuk fly via Erbil airport, fares of tickets to Turkey have increased a lot. That is why the fare for a one week journey through tourism groups to Istanbul and Antalya has increased from $550 to $750.”
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