On August 11 the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Department of Media and Information (DMI) announced that the KRG’s Ninth Cabinet has invested $7.5 billion in the tourism sector.

The DMI said in a statement that the goal of this investment is to support the diversification of revenue sources for the tourism sector. A part of the investment has been used to construct dams and ponds, which have become popular attractions for tourists who enjoy the scenic views.

Agricultural expert Salih Hussein told the DMI that the construction of dams and ponds would create a cooler climate, restore natural water resources, and create job opportunities in the tourism sector. 

There are currently 23 dams and 118 ponds in the Kurdistan Region, including those at Chamrga, Khans, Dewana, Turajar, Shawger, and Aquban. During the term of the KRG’s Ninth Cabinet, eight ponds have been completed, with 43 more planned for construction.

In 2023, over 7 million people visited these areas for tourism, and the sector is expected to flourish with the completion of new dams and ponds.

In the first eight months of 2024, the Kurdistan Region managed to source 3 billion cubic meters of water, rising from 2 billion cubic meters in 2023.

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In 2023, the General Board of Tourism of Kurdistan set an ambitious goal of attracting 20 million tourists annually to the Kurdistan Region by 2030.

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“The Kurdistan Region is stable and peaceful. Its environment and geography are naturally suited for investment in agriculture, tourism, and industry,” KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said during the launch of “Invest Kurdistan” held in June 2023.

“We have adopted a diversified economic policy, so we support a wide range of investments across all sectors. Our nature and climate also create the best opportunity for tourism investment in the Middle East.”