Erbil gears up for New Year's celebrations

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Plans are underway to ready Erbil for New Year celebrations.

100 million dinars (approximately $84,000) has been dedicated to decorating the city's streets ahead of the festivities, which are set to attract visitors from other parts of Kurdistan and overseas.

All traffic and security preparations have been made to welcome tourists arriving in the city to ring in 2020, according to Erbil's central municipality.

"Many parties will be held. We have prepared a security plan for the city. For Ainkawa, we have taken special necessary security plans to protect the places where people visit to celebrate the new year," said Erbil's Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid. 

The relative security and peace of the Kurdistan Region attracts large numbers of tourists on public holidays, including new year celebrations. 

Reporting by Payam Sarbast