The challenges and obstacles facing the tourism sector across various regions of the Kurdistan Region were examined during a focus group organized by the Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies, aimed at identifying viable solutions to ease hurdles and revitalize the industry.

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies hosted a dedicated focus group addressing how to advance the tourism sector across Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates, as well as the Garmian and Raparin independent administrations. The session reviewed critical bottlenecks and actionable measures required to improve the sector.

Participants included government officials, academics, and owners of local tourism enterprises. They highlighted prominent issues, such as the absence of a joint public private action plan, inadequate road networks and infrastructure, neglect of historical landmarks, and insufficient tourist services.

The session also outlined strategic solutions to attract more visitors to the region, including employing tourism professionals and specialists particularly tourism department graduates raising service quality standards, incentivizing private investment through streamlined licensing and tax/fee reductions, and adapting the sector to modern technological advancements.

The Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies will synthesize the outcomes of these discussions into a practical roadmap and action plan. This will be submitted to relevant authorities to mitigate barriers and foster sustainable tourism growth across the Kurdistan Region.