ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Investment in the Kurdistan Region’s tourism sector has created more than 20,000 jobs, a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) minister said on Sunday, with 80 percent of the positions having gone to locals. 

“Tourism has become one of the most important priorities for diversifying revenue sources. To this end, more than 80 major tourism projects – worth $7.5 billion – have been implemented,” said Sasan Awni, the Kurdistan Region’s minister of municipalities and tourism.

Awni was speaking at the third anniversary of Invest Kurdistan, a major strategic and foreign investment drive led by the Kurdistan Region’s Board of Investment to diversify the Region’s economy and reduce the dependency on oil. 

More than 3,000 tourist sites and facilities are present in the Kurdistan Region, according to Awni. “The government has opened its doors to investors to significantly increase this number, with the aim of attracting the largest possible number of tourists.” 

The minister said that over 20,000 jobs, “80 percent of which are filled by the local workforce,” have been created by tourism projects.

“The development of roads and infrastructure through 700 projects in this sector has played a key role in revitalizing tourist areas, making it easier for tourists to reach even the most remote tourist destinations,” he added. 

The minister further called on private sector investors to capitalize on facilities provided by the KRG and invest in the economy, with authorities having a goal of “Kurdistan a year-round, four-season tourism destination and a major global hub for investment and tourism.” 

The KRG has made increasing efforts in recent years to diversify its revenue sources and make the Region an appealing destination for international businesses. 

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s readiness to support potential domestic and foreign investors in a bid to diversify the economy.