ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tens of thousands of tourists have flocked to the Kurdistan Region during the Eid al-Adha holiday, with tourism officials across the Region reporting hotels operating near full capacity as visitors continue arriving from central and southern Iraq.
Tourism authorities in Sulaimani, Erbil, Duhok, and Halabja said the number of visitors this Eid has surpassed arrivals during Eid al-Fitr, when the US and Israel war against Iran affected travel.
Goran Qadir, spokesperson for the Sulaimani tourism directorate, told Rudaw on Thursday that “tens of thousands of tourists” had visited the province’s districts and that authorities had made extensive preparations to accommodate them.
“We have distributed brochures in various languages to tourists. Our information center on Salim Street is assisting visitors, security procedures have been streamlined to take as little time as possible, and we have welcomed them at the checkpoints,” Qadir said.
The Kurdistan Region, known for its mountainous landscapes, cooler summer climate, and historical landmarks, attracts the majority of its visitors from central and southern Iraq during holidays and summer seasons, while foreign tourists account for a smaller share of arrivals.
Sulaimani province currently has around 380 tourist hotels, 50 budget hotels, eight five-star hotels, and hundreds of tourist cabins and huts.
Qadir added that “hotels and motels are operating at full capacity,” noting that restaurants and eateries had been instructed ahead of Eid to remain open to receive visitors.
In Erbil province, tourism officials also reported a sharp increase in arrivals compared to Eid al-Fitr.
“Tourist arrivals are very good; a large number has arrived. The rate has increased significantly compared to Eid al-Fitr, as there was conflict during that holiday,” Nariman Fazil, spokesperson for the Erbil tourism directorate, told Rudaw on Thursday.
According to tourism figures, Erbil province has approximately 445 hotels and motels, 47 tourist villages, and hundreds of tourist huts.
“Tourists have been arriving for three days, and the flow will continue through today and tomorrow. Most guest houses and hotels are booked and full of tourists,” Fazil said.
In Duhok province, where tourism remains one of the Region’s major economic sectors, hotel occupancy rates have also surged.
“A vast number of tourists have arrived, and 90 percent of hotels and motels are filled,” Sheikh Ihsan Issa, head of the Duhok branch of the Restaurant and Hotel Association, told Rudaw on Thursday.
Isa said visitors from Erbil, Halabja, and Sulaimani, in addition to tourists from central and southern Iraq, had traveled to Duhok during the holiday.
Duhok province is home to nearly 900 tourist sites, including 145 hotels and around 250 designated tourist zones.
In Halabja province, officials said tourism facilities were prepared to receive large crowds visiting popular destinations in the Hawraman region, including the resorts of Byara and Zalm.
“A large number of tourists have arrived. All preparations have been made, and accommodation is available for those who wish to stay overnight,” Hawraman Jalal, director of media and communications for Halabja tourism, told Rudaw.
Although Halabja has fewer hotels and motels than other provinces, Jalal said “many kiosks, cabins, and tourist houses have been built and are ready to receive visitors.”