The Kurdistan Region’s tourism industry is entering a new phase of growth, with rising visitor numbers and expanding regional interest. At this year’s Middle East Tourism Expo in Erbil (METEX), public and private stakeholders came together to build networks, explore investment opportunities, and accelerate the development of tourism infrastructure across the region.
Among the key exhibitors was Visit Kurdistan, a private initiative working to promote the region internationally, develop strategic partnerships, and lead flagship projects such as the $160 million Soran cable car and a growing digital platform for travel services.
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According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the Middle East was the only global region to not only fully recover from the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on tourism by 2023, but to exceed 2019 levels by 20%.
“This presents a timely opportunity to attract solo travelers and those curious about the Middle East to explore our region,” Visit Kurdistan spokesperson Nuha Bahadeen told Kurdistan Chronicle on the sidelines of METEX. “By positioning Kurdistan as ‘the heart of the Middle East,’ it’s the perfect moment to capture interest and attract visitors to our beautiful land – rich in culture, hospitality, and untapped experiences.
“Initiatives such as Visit Kurdistan are essential to this vision, showcasing the region’s cultural richness, scenic landscapes, and welcoming spirit to the world.”
Bahadeen underlined that growth in tourism could have huge economic benefits for the Kurdish economy.
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The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been working the last few years to diversify the Kurdistan Region’s economy, and not solely rely on oil income. This is the third METEX that has been held in the Kurdistan Region so far.
According to the latest data, over 7 million tourists visited the Kurdistan Region in 2023 – a 16% rise compared to the previous year.
This growth trajectory has continued into 2024, with the number of visitors expected to reach around 8 million by year-end. The sector proved economically impactful, contributing between $1.8 billion and $2.2 billion in revenue in 2023 alone.
Bahadeen added that Visit Kurdistan is working hand-in-hand with the KRG to promote the tourism sector. “We promote the region through marketing campaigns, including on social media, where we showcase the beauty of the region, including the nature, archeology, and history of our land.”
This year, Visit Kurdistan signed a $160 million agreement with Leitner to build a 10-kilometer cable car in Soran. “We are trying to build one of the longest cable cars in the world,” Bahadeen said.
“It has seven stops, and for each stop we will be able to create opportunities for local communities to develop restaurants and cafes. We are projecting revenue of $50 million in the first year of operating alongside opportunities for the people to open their businesses there.
“This is going be a main tourist attraction for the region thanks to the beautiful mountains of Soran. It is nice to give access to those places for tourists that are interested in our region,” she said.
Visit Kurdistan also has an immersive website, through which visitors can get detailed information about the Kurdistan Region’s culture, traditions, music, costumes, history, and archeology. “This is a digital center for people that are looking forward to visiting our region, so they can gather all the information there,” Bahadeen explained.
Currently, Visit Kurdistan is also bringing journalists, vloggers, and content creators from abroad to the region. “Recently we had a journalist from Wanderlust Travel Magazine and we actually got them here through the e-visa program. It was great for them to find out that entering the country is now easier because of digital infrastructure.”
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Furthermore, tourists can explore the famous Shanidar Cave, where archaeologists discovered the remains of several Neanderthals dating back thousands of years. A new museum is currently being built at the site, which was featured in a Netflix documentary in June last year.
Kurdistan also has many beautiful mountains. “We have a saying, no friends but the mountains, and the mountains were always our refuge during trouble, but they now also offer very beautiful scenery that a lot of travelers would like to explore, which is why the Soran cable car is so important.”
There are also plans to develop traditional Kurdish homes to offer visitors a unique cultural experience.
Bahadeen said the Kurdistan Region will be especially attractive for solo travellers and explorers interested in history and culture, rather than tourists looking for luxury trips.“We want people that would like to explore the world and are looking for unique features and unique aspects. Kurdistan is the right place for them to visit. It has a lot to offer,” she said. “First, through the communities that we have. This is a very diverse region that has always been a haven of coexistence among different ethnicities and different religions.
“Our people are very hospitable, and very warm. This has been something that actually attracts a lot of people, so it’s everything combined together that makes this place worth visiting and will be a favorite memory for everyone that comes here.”
