Iraqi Kurdistan can house 100,000 tourists per night, board reports

ERBIL,— Iraq’s Kurdistan Region has the infrastructure to accommodate 100,000 tourists per night, according to a spokesperson from the region’s tourism board.

Ibrahim Abdulmajid, speaking to Channel8 TV, said there are around 3,100 tourism-related sites, service providers, and businesses throughout the region. These include roughly 1,000 restaurants, 480 hotels, 280 motels, and more than 500 licensed tourism companies.

According to the tourism board, the region received more than $7.5 billion in tourism investment over the past five years.

In 2024, 28 major projects valued at $322 million were launched, aimed at enhancing tourist services and facilities.

Officials noted that tourism in the Kurdistan Region has expanded steadily, supported by a mild climate and scenic mountain areas that attract visitors. During holidays such as Eid al-Adha, Newroz, Christmas, the summer season, and winter snowfall, hundreds of thousands of people from Iraq’s central and southern provinces travel to the region.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has set a target of drawing 20 million tourists annually by 2030, in an effort to boost the non-oil sectors of its economy. However, according to analysts, that goal may be too ambitious, given the current pace of development and existing infrastructure limitations.

The region, along with the rest of Iraq, remains dependent on oil revenues, but tourism is being promoted as a key pillar of future growth.

To handle the seasonal increase in visitors, tourism authorities routinely instruct all recreational sites and tourist centers to remain open during peak holiday periods.

(With files from Channel 8 TV | Agencies)