Kurdistan
A tourist defaces Bahiri Cave in Zakho’s Independent Administration, Kurdistan Region, on August 17, 2025. Photo: Screengrab/Submitted
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A video showing a tourist spray-painting a cave in the Kurdistan Region's northern Zakho area has sparked public outrage, prompting calls from tourism officials for stricter regulations on tour companies and guides, along with greater awareness of environmental and historical preservation.
The footage, submitted to Rudaw on Saturday, shows the tourist spray-painting the Bhere Cave - located in Zakho’s Independent Administration near the Turkish border - with red paint before being stopped by local residents.
Situated around 16 kilometers from Zakho city in the Darkar district, Bhere Cave is known for its natural spring, which flows year-round with fresh, cold water, making it a popular summer destination.
“Many tourist companies that visit the area disregard the guidance of tour guides, who possess essential knowledge about the environment and the sites they explore,” she said.
Tourism in the Kurdistan Region has seen significant growth in recent years, driven largely by improved security and government-backed initiatives. The number of visitors increased from 358,299 in 2013 to over 7 million in 2023, with the KRG aiming to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2030.
This rise has been accompanied by a boom in tourism infrastructure, including the establishment of more than 600 tourism companies and over 750 hotels as of early 2021, according to figures from the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office (KRSO).
Jalal stressed the importance of tour operators working with licensed guides from the Kurdistan Region, in line with regulations coordinated with Iraqi authorities. She also raised concerns about unregistered “fake companies” operating under the names of certified ones, noting that such violations are initially met with warnings and can result in being banned from operating in the Kurdistan Region.
Regarding enforcement, Jalal said the Tourism Board she heads had previously requested the recruitment of 1,500 tourism police officers, but the plan was stalled due to Erbil’s financial constraints. A revised proposal has now been submitted for 30 tourism police officers each in Erbil and Sulaimani, and 15 to 20 in other cities - totaling 165 new positions. The plan is currently awaiting approval from the next cabinet, which Kurdish leaders anticipate will be formed by November.
The footage, submitted to Rudaw on Saturday, shows the tourist spray-painting the Bhere Cave - located in Zakho’s Independent Administration near the Turkish border - with red paint before being stopped by local residents.
Situated around 16 kilometers from Zakho city in the Darkar district, Bhere Cave is known for its natural spring, which flows year-round with fresh, cold water, making it a popular summer destination.
In an interview with Rudaw, Amal Jalal, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Tourism Board, censured the act, describing it as a reflection of “a lack of environmental and historical awareness.”A tourist defaced the Bahiri Cave in the Kurdistan Region's Zakho Independent Administration, near the Turkish border, before being stopped by locals. pic.twitter.com/abHXqWEY4L
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) August 18, 2025
“Many tourist companies that visit the area disregard the guidance of tour guides, who possess essential knowledge about the environment and the sites they explore,” she said.
Tourism in the Kurdistan Region has seen significant growth in recent years, driven largely by improved security and government-backed initiatives. The number of visitors increased from 358,299 in 2013 to over 7 million in 2023, with the KRG aiming to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2030.
This rise has been accompanied by a boom in tourism infrastructure, including the establishment of more than 600 tourism companies and over 750 hotels as of early 2021, according to figures from the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office (KRSO).
Jalal stressed the importance of tour operators working with licensed guides from the Kurdistan Region, in line with regulations coordinated with Iraqi authorities. She also raised concerns about unregistered “fake companies” operating under the names of certified ones, noting that such violations are initially met with warnings and can result in being banned from operating in the Kurdistan Region.
Regarding enforcement, Jalal said the Tourism Board she heads had previously requested the recruitment of 1,500 tourism police officers, but the plan was stalled due to Erbil’s financial constraints. A revised proposal has now been submitted for 30 tourism police officers each in Erbil and Sulaimani, and 15 to 20 in other cities - totaling 165 new positions. The plan is currently awaiting approval from the next cabinet, which Kurdish leaders anticipate will be formed by November.
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