ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday celebrated Erbil’s recent listing among the best places to visit in Asia by an American travel magazine, describing it as a “tribute” to the Kurdish people.

Condé Nast Traveler, a New York-based luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, earlier this month published its “Best Places to Go in Asia in 2026,” which featured Erbil as one of the top picks.

Prime Minister Barzani welcomed the recognition, stating that the Kurdish capital “continues to inspire the world.”

“The recognition… is more than a ranking, it is a tribute to our people, their warmth, and the stories of thousands of years of history,” wrote the Kurdish premier.

The magazine describes Erbil as “a calm spot in a volatile region,” lauding the city’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, ethnic diversity, developmental projects, and government-backed initiatives such as Visit Kurdistan.

“Erbil is a city to savour slowly, to sip sweet tea beneath the ancient ramparts alongside men dressed in baggy sharwal pants, and to join friendly young Kurds for drinks and live music in Ankawa neighbourhood bars,” reads an excerpt from the feature.

Visit Kurdistan, a major platform aiming to promote the tourism sector and attract millions of visitors to the Kurdistan Region, was launched in Erbil in June, in a grand ceremony attended by scores of diplomats and top officials.

The platform, built on international standards, aims to change the Kurdistan Region's “visibility and perception as a globally-competitive destination,” according to Chief Executive Officer Daban Hamid, who described its launch as the beginning of “a new era for Kurdistan’s tourism.”

The Kurdistan Region offers over 2,500 resorts and tourist attraction sites. The Region’s 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.