Slemani Corniche Completion Expected to Double Annual Tourist Arrivals

At a Glance

Finishing the corniches will double yearly tourists to one million, said Mahmoud Tofiq, Head of the Slemani Hotels and Restaurants Association.
Tofiq noted Slemani has 2,500 hospitality venues, creating thousands of local jobs.
The association head added that Qubad Talabani's office ended restaurant service fees a year ago.

Completing Slemani’s corniches will boost annual tourist arrivals to one million, building on a hospitality sector of 2,500 hotels, motels, and restaurants that already provides thousands of local jobs, according to Mahmoud Tofiq, Head of the Slemani Hotels and Restaurants Association.

Key Statements and Focus Area

Mahmoud Tofiq told Channel8 that with the completion of Slemani's corniches, the annual number of tourists visiting Sulaymaniyah will increase from 500,000 to one million.
He noted that the city is home to 2,500 hotels, motels, and tourist centers, of which 1,900 hold one- to five-star ratings.

The Head of the Slemani Hotels and Restaurants Association further highlighted that 600 popular tourist venues, restaurants, and kebab houses are licensed by the district administration and health authorities.

Tofiq noted that dining service fees at eateries and restaurants have been abolished for the past year, following efforts by Qubad Talabani's office.

He explained that opening a hotel, motel, or tourist center in Slemani previously required visiting nine government offices, a bureaucratic hurdle now eliminated by Qubad Talabani's office.

Under the streamlined process, developers of new hotels only need to register with the Directorate of Company Registration, while owners of existing properties only deal with the Tax Directorate.

FYI

Tourism is a central pillar of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas revenues.

Within this regional push, Slemani, widely recognized as the Kurdistan Region’s cultural capital, has established itself as a primary destination, particularly for domestic visitors from central and southern Iraq seeking milder summer weather, mountain resorts, and cultural landmarks.

On the ground, hundreds of bulldozers, excavators, and workers are actively operating on major infrastructure projects stretching from the city's entrance at the landmark Slemani Corniche to the foothills of Mount Goizha and Mount Azmar.

According to the masterplan set for Slemani, these ongoing developments are designed to transform the city into a major hub capable of accommodating a significantly larger influx of tourists in the coming years.

These physical upgrades, including the strategic Slemani Corniche and the Darwaza Corniche along the Qiliasan River, are paired with administrative reforms led by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani's office to cut red tape, attract private hospitality investment, and modernize the city's infrastructure.