Erbil draws +89k tourists during Eid holiday

Shafaq News/ On Monday, authorities in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region, hailed the Eid al-Adha holiday a success, reporting smooth security and service operations.

According to a statement from the Erbil Province, a total of 89,301 tourists visited the city over the holiday period, while public parks and green spaces recorded 108,000 visitors, including 30,000 at Sami Abdulrahman Park.

The figures align with earlier forecasts of a seasonal tourism surge across the Kurdistan Region, supported by improved infrastructure and more temperate weather than in Iraq’s southern provinces.

The Erbil Security Directorate confirmed that its Eid security plan was implemented without incident, maintaining high alert status from June 7 to 10. The Civil Defense Directorate successfully contained 16 fire incidents, reporting no casualties and limiting damage to property.

Earlier, local authorities had anticipated a sharp rise in visitor numbers, expecting more than 300,000 tourists to arrive across the Region, thanks to improved infrastructure and favorable weather conditions compared to Iraq’s southern provinces.