ERBIL () - When Anna looked at a map while traveling in Mardin, Türkiye, the Kurdistan Region was close enough to turn curiosity into a journey. She boarded a bus for Erbil with little knowledge of what awaited her.
Nearly a week later, after visiting Erbil, Rawanduz and Akre, the British tourist said the experience had surpassed her expectations.
"didn't know anything about Kurdistan before, but it's so beautiful and I've had a really nice time,"Anna, who is from London, told. "First trip in Kurdistan, yeah, and I've loved every second of it."
For Anna, the journey became as much about people and everyday culture as mountains, towns and historical sites. One feature that repeatedly caught her attention was the continued presence of traditional Kurdish clothing in daily life.
She said she was particularly struck by seeing men wearing Kurdish dress not only during celebrations, but while walking through bazaars, streets, towns and the countryside.
"I think that's really wonderful,"she said, describing the clothing as an important part of preserving the Region's cultural character. "More people here wear traditional dress in their day-to-day lives than in other places."
Her journey also reflects a wider effort to introduce the Kurdistan Region to travelers who may know little about it before arriving.
In June 2025,'s reported on the launch of the "Visit Kurdistan"initiative, whose stated mission includes promoting the Region's natural landscapes to international travelers and improving services designed for foreign visitors. The initiative has set a goal of attracting more than 20 million tourists by 2035.
Read More: Kurdistan Launches 'Visit Kurdistan' Initiative to Attract 20 Million Tourists by 2035
Anna's experience points to another asset that tourism campaigns cannot manufacture: the encounters visitors have with local residents.
"Kurdish people are so kind and so generous and so welcoming,"she said. Traveling alone as a woman, she added, can sometimes feel intimidating in unfamiliar destinations, but she said she felt safe throughout her trip.
"I found Kurdish people to be some of the warmest people I've ever met,"she said. "Honestly, it's the people that have made my trip the most amazing."
Among the places she visited, Akre stood out.
"I would say Akre. It's really beautiful,"Anna said when asked about her favorite historical town.
The mountain city has itself become central to the Kurdistan Region's expanding tourism plans. In August 2025,'s report detailed Akre's designation as the official "Capital of Newroz"and a $150 million tourism development project intended to expand accommodation and visitor facilities while positioning the city as a base for travelers exploring Duhok and Erbil.
Read More: Akre Designated 'Newroz Capital,' Set for Major Redevelopment and $150M Tourism Push
Akre recorded 496,233 visitors in 2025, up from 447,800 the previous year, according to figures reported by. The growth has also exposed challenges, with local tourism officials and businesses calling for additional roads, accommodation and services as visitor numbers rise.
Read More: Akre Sees Surge in Tourism in 2025, Nearly 500,000 Visitors Recorded
The government's tourism strategy is increasingly extending beyond major cities and resorts. A May 2026 report by detailed the nomination of Biyara in Halabja, Hiror in Duhok and Rawanduz in Erbil for the UN Tourism Organization's "Best Tourism Villages"initiative. The nominations place rural landscapes, local heritage and environmental preservation alongside large infrastructure projects in the Region's tourism push.
Read More: Three Kurdistan Villages Among Shortlisted Sites by Iraq for UN Tourism Program
For Anna, however, the case for visiting Kurdistan is much simpler.
She said she hopes to return and spend more time in Duhok and Sulaimani, two places she was unable to explore fully during her first visit.
Her advice to other international travelers is equally straightforward: allow enough time.
"I really recommend visiting Kurdistan,"she said. "Come for at least two weeks so you have time to see everything."
And for Anna, the first trip does not appear to be the last.
"I'll definitely be back to explore more."
