Tourism companies in the Kurdistan Region say the airspace closure has severely damaged the travel sector. Industry representatives say travel agencies have not sold any airline tickets for 15 days. Tourist activity has also dropped to zero since the conflict began.
Authorities closed the airspace of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region on February 28 because of security concerns linked to the war. Airlines immediately suspended flights. As a result, tourism companies lost most of their business. Travelers can no longer enter or leave the region by air.
Rebwar Azad, head of the Kurdistan Region Tourism Companies Association, said the crisis caused major financial losses for travel agencies. He explained that tourism companies suffered first after the authorities closed the airspace.
Azad said travel agencies have not sold a single ticket since the conflict began. Tourism companies also stopped sending travel groups abroad. At the same time, no international tourist groups have arrived in the Kurdistan Region. Tourism activity has therefore stopped almost completely.
Azad also warned that companies now face serious financial pressure. Travel agencies must still pay license renewal fees to the government. They also pay taxes, office rent, employee salaries, and utility bills. These costs continue even though tourism companies currently earn no income.
Azad said no tourism company has submitted a closure request so far. However, he warned that companies may start shutting down if the airspace closure continues.
Tourism officials in Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, and Halabja confirmed that visitor numbers from central and southern Iraq have almost reached zero.
Despite the crisis, tourism authorities continue preparations for the Ramadan holiday season. Officials hope security conditions will improve soon so tourists can return to the Kurdistan Region and revive the tourism sector.
