ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Compared to previous religious and national holidays, the number of tourists visiting the main attraction spots in Erbil province has dropped due to the most recent flash floods and cold weather, according to local authorities.
Heavy rainfall and floods over the past weekend caused serious damage to resorts at Erbil’s tourist attractions and brought traffic to a standstill. As Muslims in the Kurdistan Region celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the number of tourists was lower than expected.
"The number of tourists that have come was not what we predicted due to two key reasons; first, final examinations, second, most recent floods... However, we believe, from after [Eid al-Fitr] the number of tourists will go back to normal as the temperature degrees increase," Laween Jabar, owner of a resort in Soran told Rudaw’s Andam Jabbar.
Gali Ali Bag waterfall resort, 130 km north of Erbil city, was one of the hardest hit areas.
Days of storms brought heavy rains to all parts of the Kurdistan Region with Duhok seeing the most rainfall. More rain is forecast over the coming week.
Erbil province's Gali Ali Bag, Bekhal, Jundiyan, and Mount Korek are the key tourist spots in the province that every year sees hundreds of thousands of tourists on a domestic and international level.
Nahied Hassani and her family have visited Bekhal from Iran, spending their Eid holiday in the Region.
"This place is very very beautiful. We have come from Rojhelat [the Kurdish areas of western Iran]. It is such a beautiful Eid holiday. Kurdistan [Region] is very fascinating. I wish everyone a happy Eid," Hassani told Rudaw.
The bulk of tourists who have come to the Soran district resorts are from the central and southern Iraqi provinces.
"We have come to Erbil to spend a happy time. It has beautiful weather and charming views. Deep down in my heart, I pray for the greater good of Iraq. Iraq has seen miserable situations in the past. I pray for a safe and prosperous Iraq," Surah Ibrahim, a tourist from southern Iraq, told Rudaw.
Among the tourists are also those who have come from other parts of the Kurdistan Region. They are easily distinguished by their colorful Kurdish clothing.
"Whenever I come to visit this place, I wear Kurdish clothing. I am doing so to show and preserve our rituals and culture to those foreigners who visit this spot as well," Renas Hazim said.
