As Eid al-Adha approaches, flights between Sulaymaniyah and Iran are returning to normal. This comes at a time when Erbil’s tourism sector has declined by 80% due to ongoing regional tensions.

Sulaymaniyah-Tehran Flights Set to Resume

Ata Anwar, Head of the Tourism Companies Association in Sulaymaniyah, announced that flights between Sulaymaniyah and Tehran are scheduled to resume on Friday, May 29.

According to Anwar, tourism companies are preparing to bring Iranian tourists to the Kurdistan Region and organize travel groups from the region to northern Iran.

Sharp Decline in Erbil Tourism

Sherzad Zrari, head of tourism at Erbil’s Association of Tourism Companies, stated that although flights from Tehran to Erbil resumed on May 1, demand for travel to Iran remains very low.

He noted that compared to last year, the number of trips has dropped by 80%, while the revenue of tourism companies working with Iran has fallen by 70%.

Expectations for the Eid Holiday Season

Anwar predicted that large numbers of tourists from central and southern Iraq will travel to Sulaymaniyah province during the Eid al-Adha holidays.

He added that tourism companies are facing a general decline in trips and revenues this year and hope the holiday season will help improve the situation.

Regional Tensions Continue to Affect Travel

The war involving Iran and broader conflicts in the Middle East have directly affected the tourism sector. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to a fuel crisis and rising energy costs.

These developments have increased the cost of global air travel and caused travel disruptions and suspensions across the region.