$800,000 spent on NYE fireworks in Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Traders have claimed that Kurdistan Region's 2020 fireworks shows cost more than $800,000, as tourists flocked to Erbil, Sulaimani and Duhok to celebrate the new year. 

"For the new year celebrations, more than 167,000 holidaymakers visited the Kurdistan Region, up from last year's 136,000 tourists," Mawlawi Jabbar, head of the Tourism Board of the KRG told Rudaw on Monday. "Most of the hotels, motels and guest houses had been booked."

Firework displays on New Year’s Eve and during national and religious festivals have become a tradition in the Kurdistan Region over the past two decades.

A wholesale fireworks trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Rudaw that the bulk of the fireworks are brought in from China.

"The fireworks are very profitable. For example the price of a packet of [roman candle] firework containing 96 pieces is for $45, but we sell it for $110 to $150," he said, confirming that "this year's fireworks cost at least $800,000."

According to data from the Erbil Central Municipality, parties were held at 140 hotels, malls, restaurants across Erbil.

"We decided to allow all the hotels and malls and restaurants to hold new year parties and use fireworks.” Erbil’s Central Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid told Rudaw.

Preparations for Erbil’s festivities began in early December, according to Abdulhamid. 

One hundred million dinars (approximately $84,000) was dedicated to decorating the city's streets ahead of the festivities, Abdulhamid had earlier told Rudaw.

Majidi Mall, located on  Erbil’s Koya road saw colourful firework displays as the clock struck midnight.  

"To welcome the new year, 2020, we lit fireworks worth $35,000 in both branches of Majidi Mall in Erbil and Sulaimani," Kaifi Dabagh, the administrative manager of the Majidi malls told Rudaw. 

Dabagh added a large number of tourists and locals came to the Majidi malls to see the fireworks.

"This year's number of tourists and guests of the Majidi malls in Erbil and Sulaimani was double compared to the last year's," Dabagh said, adding they have plans to use fireworks for Newroz as well.

Newroz is the celebration of the traditional New Year holiday largely marked by Kurds and Persians every year on March 21.

In Sulaimani and Duhok, firework displays were also held to welcome the new year.

Sulaimani’s largest hotel, The Shari Jwan, held several parties.

"Parties were held in five different halls of the Shari Jwan and we lit fireworks worth $10,000," said Hero Hassan, the hotel’s marketing manager.

"Across many of the hotels, restaurants and cafes of Sulaimani, new year celebrations were held in a very beautiful and professional way," Sulaimani Central Mayor Awat Mohammed said.

"The Shari Jwan's fireworks were chosen as the one of the most beautiful fireworks of the year and were published by the BBC website," he added.

Translated by Zhelwan Z.Wali