Kurdistan Region expecting 200,000 tourists for New Year’s Eve

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s tourism board told Rudaw on Monday that they expect around 200,000 tourists to visit the Region for New Year’s Eve celebrations, adding that they are in coordination with security forces to facilitate the entry of visitors.

Ibrahim Abdulmajid, media head of the Kurdistan Region's tourism board, told Rudaw’s Soran Hussein that they have started preparations for the New Year celebrations and informed all restaurants and tourism spots to remain open during the holidays and be prepared to receive visitors.

The Kurdistan Region is considered Iraq’s main tourism hub, with its moderate summer weather and cold winters, the Region welcomes Iraqi tourists throughout the year. The bulk of holidaymakers visiting the Kurdistan Region come from the southern and central provinces of Iraq, with the remaining tourists coming from countries outside of Iraq.

“The tourist groups can now finish the executive procedures and enter the Kurdistan Region within four minutes,” said Abdulmajid.

Several committees have been formed to prevent businesses from exploiting the holidays to increase prices, and a helpline will be launched to help tourists in need of assistance, he added.

More than 60,000 tourists from southern and central Iraqi provinces joined thousands in Erbil to celebrate the arrival of the 2023 New Year. Over 40,000 tourists visited the city of Sulaimani to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2023.