ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than 75,000 tourists from Iraqi southern and central provinces visited Kurdistan Region’s capital city of Erbil in recent days to celebrate the New Year, according to Erbil governor.
Visiting celebrators in Erbil’s famous Iskan street, Omed Khoshnaw told reporters that 76,648 tourists from federal-controlled provinces visited the province between December 25-31.
“We hope to serve our people in the best way in 2022,” added Khosnaw.
Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani governments decided not to officially celebrate the New Year due to the death of several people in Erbil’s floods in December. But people warmly celebrated the New Year in the provinces.
Tourism in the Kurdistan Region has been a booming sector in recent years, but it was hit by coronavirus-related measures in 2020. This year, the easing of these measures has helped the sector to gradually recover.
Over four million tourists visited the Kurdistan Region this year, with the capital city of Erbil receiving the lion’s share, the Region’s tourism board said on Thursday.
