Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), officially opened the Third Middle East Tourism Exhibition (MITEX 2025) in Erbil with a formal ceremony.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Barzani described the exhibition as “an exemplary step toward advancing the tourism sector,” adding that tourism plays a key role in the KRG’s efforts to diversify the economy. “A major part of our policy is to develop and rejuvenate both private tourism enterprises and the public sector,” he said.
Barzani emphasized that the government has taken several practical steps to promote tourism, including launching new initiatives from Zakho to Halabja. He highlighted tourism’s role in creating job opportunities, particularly for young people, and supporting small businesses in the private sector.
“Kurdistan is known for its hospitality,” the Prime Minister said. “We want to present that hospitality in a modern way through our restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions to visitors and friends of Kurdistan.”
He also underscored the region’s deep historical roots, citing the Erbil Citadel as a prime example. “The Erbil Citadel is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement, dating back to 6000 BCE. Surrounding it are many historical sites that are being discovered on a regular basis.”
MITEX 2025 brings together 120 tourism companies and institutions from 20 countries. According to Ibrahim Abdul Majid, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Tourism Authority, the event will include the signing of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding. “Our goal is to elevate Kurdistan’s tourism sector to the international level,” he said.
