Developing Tourism Enterprises in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

From the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):

Developing Tourism Enterprises in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Tourism - Board of Tourism of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), proudly announces the successful completion of  the  Tourism Enterprise Development Program for women and youth aimed at developing the Tourism sector and empowering women and youth across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

H.E. Mr. Qubad Talabani, Kurdistan Regional Government's Deputy Prime Minister, said:

"The tourism sector holds immense potential for economic growth and sustainable development in the Kurdistan Region. 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."

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.

Auke Lootsma, the resident representative of UNDP Iraq, said:

"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."

Ms. Erin Mone-Marquez, Mission Director, USAID Iraq, said:

"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."

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.

(Source: UNDP)