ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday opened the third Middle East Tourism Exhibition (METEX) in Erbil, a major event that aims to promote tourism in the Kurdistan Region and attract investment in the sector , describing it as "pivotal" to developing the tourism sector.

The three-day event will be held with the participation of at least 120 tourist companies from across 20 countries.

The development of the tourism sector has been one of the key objectives of the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has "tried a lot to facilitate and support the development of the tourism sector to diversify sources of revenue,” said Prime Minister Barzani.

“One of the key factors that will help introduce Kurdistan to the outside world is that we should pay attention to developing the tourism sector,” Barzani continued.

The Kurdish premier went on to say, "We want to pay attention to the history of Kurdistan… Every year we see new historical archeological sites are found in the Kurdistan Region. These things could all lead to the development of the tourism sector in the Kurdistan Region.”

The Kurdistan Region’s tourism industry has become a booming sector in recent years.

The beautiful nature and moderate temperatures during the summertime and cozy, snow-capped wintery retreats during the colder seasons have become major attractions for tourists from all over Iraq and further afield.

The KRG aims to attract 20 million tourists per year by 2030.