Summer heat draws thousands of Iraqi tourists to Kurdistan’s highlands

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Eid holidays have seen thousands of tourists pouring into the Kurdistan Region from the center and south of Iraq to escape the summer heat in the region’s natural resorts.

The mountains and waterfalls of Erbil province have received the lion’s share of tourists with most visiting the Gali Ali Bag waterfall  where the temperature is cooler and they provide an ideal respite from the soaring heat in Iraq.

“The tourist sites are clean and the price of food and drinks and services are good,” Zainab Abdullah, an Iraqi tourist told Rudaw. “I’m really captivated by the mountains here and have greatly enjoyed my time.”

Local restauranteurs and hotel owners say they have catered to local Kurdish tourists too, but admitting that their business relies mainly on the Iraqi visitors.

The Kurdish government has launched on renovating several tourist sites by adding new accommodation and easier access to mountainsides and waterfalls as part of an initiative to boost the tourism sector.

The Kurdish region has long hot summers though compared to the rest of Iraq it remains cooler particularly in the highlands where natural shade and river flows keep the temperatures low.

“I’ve come here with my family from Turkey,” Yerde Cocuoglu told Rudaw. “This is the first time I see Kurdistan and its tourist areas and we are really in awe of them.

Every year on the Kurdish national holiday of Newroz and other religious holidays tens of thousands of tourists from Iraq and Iran pour into the region.

Korek Mountain was also a big hit earlier this year with its winter sports.

The Kurdish government has pledged to boost the tourism sector to a level that it would provide job opportunities for local residents and together with agriculture replace the energy sector.