Kurdish Iraq Welcoming Tourists
Monday, December 1st, 2008
Iraq is probably not the top destination on many travelers’ must-visit lists. Even as the violence in Baghdad subsides, the danger makes Iraq out of question for most tourists.
However, people often forget about the northern third of the country, which is populated mainly by Iraqi Kurds. They suffered under the rule of Saddam Hussein, but are now living in the quietest and most peaceful region in the country. Instead of worrying about sectarian violence, this semi-autonomous region has been spending its time improving infrastructure and security and figuring out how to promote itself to tourists. New hotels and restaurants are shooting up. The infrastructure remains rather sparse, meaning this is more of a destination for adventurers and history fanatics. But the ambitious tone of the region’s new tourism web site, www.tourismkurdistan.com, shows that Kurdish Iraq is intent on growing its industry.
Is it still dangerous? Yes. The US State Department advises travelers against heading to any part of Iraq because of criminal and terrorist activity. There are occasional border skirmishes between Turkey and Iraq’s Kurds. However, European countries have relaxed their travel restrictions on Kurdish controlled areas of Iraq and point to it is one of the success stories of the Iraq conflict.
The region’s rugged landscape is beautiful, and the history of the area dates back to the early days of humanity. Add to that the hospitality of Kurdish people, which is legendary in the Middle East. Despite the fact that the region is far from reaching its ambitions as a legit tourist destination, traditions like greeting visitors with flowers and inviting travelers into their homes for a meal go along way towards making outsiders feel welcome.
Despite its peaceful vibe, there is still evidence of Iraq’s long conflict in Kurdistan. Armed guards are everywhere. Vehicles are inspected carefully at numerous checkpoints and electricity and water services are sometimes spotty. Nonetheless, the natural hospitality of the people makes tourism a natural industry for this region.