Developing Tourism Enterprises in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

"The tourism sector holds immense potential for economic growth and sustainable development in the Kurdistan Region," said H.E. Mr. Qubad Talabani, Kurdistan Regional Government’s Deputy Prime Minister. "Through our partnership with UNDP and USAID, we have taken a significant step towards harnessing this potential by empowering our youth and equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive in this sector," added Mr. Qubad Talabani. 

The training program, conducted across 9 locations in KRI including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk, Halabja, Garmian, Soran, Rapareen, Zakho, and Akre, helped 170 female and youth participants access learning opportunities to improve their livelihoods. Sessions focused on enabling women and youth to create tourism handicraft products reflecting on Kurdistan culture and heritage. 

“This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable development in Iraq. By investing in the capacity building of women and youth, we are not only fostering economic empowerment, but also contributing to the overall advancement of the tourism sector in the KRI. This wouldn’t have been possible without the generous contribution of our steadfast partner, USAID," said Auke Lootsma, the Resident Representative of UNDP Iraq. 

"The successful completion of these trainings underscores the importance of partnerships in driving positive change. By working together, we can create opportunities for women and youth to play a transformative role in the tourism sector, ultimately contributing to job creation and economic diversification and prosperity in the KRI," said Ms. Erin Mone-Marquez, Mission Director, USAID Iraq. 

The program's emphasis on producing diverse tourism handicraft products, tailored to local market demands, reflects a holistic approach to strengthening the tourism product of KRI. Participants were trained on creating different tourism handicrafts made of Kurdish textiles, ceramic and pyrography art. 

Through these trainings, the KRG, UNDP, and USAID aim to enable women and youth to not only enter the tourism industry but also to establish their own micro-enterprises, thereby fostering sustainable livelihoods and contributing to the region's economic growth.

For more information:

Mohammed Al-Bahbahanee, UNDP Iraq, Communications Specialist

mohammed.al-bahbahanee@undp.org