Kurdistan’s tourism sector has fully embraced the Kurdish language, three years after the government mandated its use. More than 97 percent of tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants across the region now follow the rule, officials confirmed.
“All registered tourist attractions in Erbil have adopted Kurdish for business names, menus, regulations, and cashier receipts,” said Nariman Fazel, head of Erbil Tourism Media Office. This step reflects the government’s push to strengthen Kurdish cultural identity while standardizing services for local and international visitors.
In 2022, the Kurdistan Region’s General Board of Tourism issued an executive order requiring all hotels, motels, cafes, restaurants, and tourist sites to use Kurdish as the primary language. Businesses may still include foreign languages, but Kurdish must remain the main one.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani emphasized that the Kurdish language had not received enough attention, despite its official status. “Kurdish should be central in our cultural and commercial life,” he noted during International Mother Language Day events.
Compliance has expanded rapidly across the provinces. In Sulaimani, 98 percent of tourist attractions now display Kurdish prominently, said Kizhan Abdulla from Sulaimani’s tourism department. Duhok has reached 95 percent compliance, while Halabja tops the list with 99 percent, officials confirmed.
Authorities also warned that establishments failing to follow the order face license revocation, and newly established businesses must comply to receive permits. This policy ensures widespread enforcement and reinforces cultural visibility.
The 2022 decree also required that 75 percent of tourism sector employees be Kurdish nationals. Erbil tourism officials admitted this rule has proven more challenging. “We cannot fully enforce that 75 percent must be domestic workers,” Fazel added, citing staffing limitations.
The move has increased local participation in the tourism economy and enhanced the visibility of Kurdish culture for visitors. By combining language enforcement with service standards, Kurdistan aims to make its tourism sector more attractive, consistent, and culturally authentic.