With Masrour Barzani in Attendance: Official Launch of

With Masrour Barzani in Attendance: Official Launch of "Visit Kurdistan" Foundation

Jun 10 2025

ARK News.. In a ceremony attended by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the official establishment of the “Visit Kurdistan” foundation was announced — a non-governmental organization dedicated to developing the region’s tourism sector.

Helmut Kistei, spokesperson for the foundation, stated that Visit Kurdistan has been actively promoting tourism in the region for over a year. The organization aims to spotlight the natural beauty of Kurdistan on the global stage.

Kistayi emphasized that the foundation aspires to attract more than 20 million tourists to Kurdistan by the year 2035. As part of its ambitious strategy to enhance tourism infrastructure, the foundation is also expected to create over 500 new job opportunities.

He added that Visit Kurdistan is working to build a comprehensive network of services to streamline the experience for international travelers — including hotel accommodations, lodging, and an integrated online ticketing platform.

One of the foundation’s flagship projects, according to Kistayi, is a 10-kilometer cable car system in the Soran region. The project will feature 10 stations along with supporting tourist facilities such as hotels, cafés, and entertainment venues. Completion is slated for 2027.

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