Quiet celebrations at home
Sulaymaniyah tourism sees dip in March visitors due to Ramadan
SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq – Tourist arrivals in Sulaymaniyah during March have fallen short of last year’s figures, likely due to the overlap of the Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, with the holy month of Ramadan.
The Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Tourism has reported welcoming 110,000 visitors so far during the first three weeks of March. Aram Shwani, the Directorate’s spokesperson, told 964media that this represents a decrease compared to the 100,000 tourists who visited during the first 10 days of March 2023.
Shwani explained the majority of visitors this month have been domestic tourists from other Iraqi governorates, drawn to different attractions in Sulaymaniyah.
However, the overlap of Newroz, typically a time for celebration and travel, with Ramadan, a period of fasting and religious observance, appears to have dampened tourism activity. Ramadan traditionally leads to a decline in travel and outdoor activities within Iraq.
Despite the March dip, the Directorate’s statistics reveal a total of 280,000 tourists visiting Sulaymaniyah governorate since the beginning of 2024.
Notably, the Kurdistan Region’s tourism sites were quiet on Thursday, Newroz Day, with many residents opting to stay home in observance of Ramadan.
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