ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Bekhal waterfall, a top tourism destination in Erbil province’s Soran administration, will be renovated as part of a master plan by the government to redesign the area's touristic sites, an official said on Tuesday.
“The touristic areas of Soran will be renovated in a modern manner according to a master plan decided by the prime minister,” Hazhar Hakim, director of media and communications of the Soran administration, told Rudaw.
"The master plan has started, but the Bekhal resort is still open and the renovation has not started yet," he added.
Bekhal resort has a natural waterfall running down the middle of a canyon. There are restaurants and shops at the base of the waterfall. People can also climb up the slippery steps to the top of the waterfall for a beautiful view and fresh mineral water. Bekhal is one of the main tourist and summer destinations in the Kurdistan Region.
The project is expected to develop tourism from Khalifan to Bekhal, Faisal Sadiq, director general of Soran’s tourism, told Rudaw.
He added that “radical” changes will be made at the tourist destinations and resorts while assuring that those who have businesses in Bekhal will not lose their jobs as they can continue working after the project is completed.
According to Soran tourism statistics, an average of about one million tourists have visited the area annually in the past three years.
Soran Hussein contributed to this article.
