ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tourism in Iran's Kurdish Hawraman region has sharply declined this year as the combined effects of war and rising inflation deter visitors, local residents told Rudaw.
Located in western Iran's Kurdistan province, Hawraman is known for its scenic mountains and villages and usually attracts millions of visitors from across Iran and the Kurdistan Region. However, regional instability following the recent US-Iran conflict has significantly reduced tourist numbers.
"This year, the visitors are mostly our own Kurdish people coming from cities like Mahabad, Saqqez, and Bukan," Hamza Mobini, a shopkeeper in Hawraman, told Rudaw on Thursday. "We have not seen tourists coming from Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tehran, and other parts of Iran."
According to the Sanandaj Tourism Directorate, Hawraman typically receives more than two million visitors annually. Last year alone, around 2.3 million tourists visited the region, including more than 800,000 who stayed in hotels and guesthouses.
Local businesses say the conflict dealt a major blow to the tourism sector.
"During the peak of the conflict, tourism numbers plummeted. There was a brief recovery following the ceasefire, with visitors arriving until last week, but the war has left a total impact on the industry. Despite everything, we remain grateful," said shopkeeper Qazi Khalidi.
The drop in tourism has affected the local hospitality industry, which relies heavily on seasonal visitors.
Hawraman's most popular attractions include Hawraman-al-Takht, Palangan, Deweznaw, Tangisar, Darawke, Selin, and Bilbar, most of which are located in the Sawlava and Mariwan districts.
The US-Iran war erupted in late February when the US and Israel launched a large-scale aerial campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear-related sites.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting alleged US assets and military installations across the region, as well as strikes against Israel.
