BazarKurdistan:Visit Kurdistan, the region’s tourism promotion company, has signed a $160 million agreement with Leitner, an Italian leader in ropeway systems, to construct a 10-kilometer cable car. This project aims to significantly enhance the developing tourism industry in the region and attract 20 million travelers to Kurdistan by 2035.
The agreement was formalized at the Kurdistan-Italy Economic Forum in Rome, involving Visit Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This initiative marks the largest tourism engineering project ever undertaken in the Kurdistan Region.
The seven-stop cable car ropeway is set to be one of the longest in the world and is projected to yield substantial economic benefits, including the creation of over 500 jobs and an injection of $50 million into the local economy in its first year of operation.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Leitner and Visit Kurdistan paves the way for closer cooperation and stronger partnerships in the region’s tourism sector.
The cable car is expected to increase Kurdistan’s tourism revenue by 5% annually. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2025, with a launch anticipated in early 2027. The 10-kilometer cable car will feature seven stations, culminating at the renowned Korek Mountain, utilizing a state-of-the-art 2S bi-cable system known for its stability, safety, comfort, and passenger capacity.
The Korek Mountain Resort Spa is located on Mount Korek near the town of Bekhal, Rawandoz, in the autonomous Region of Kurdistan.
“Kurdistan is the antidote to conventional tourism, and we welcome visitors to explore our historic and natural riches, discovering the heart of the Middle East,” said Daban Hamid, CEO of Visit Kurdistan. “We are pleased to collaborate with the KRG and Leitner on this initiative to enhance our infrastructure, encourage economic diversification, create jobs, and open up the most scenic parts of Kurdistan for exploration.”
“Working on this ambitious and impactful project presents an exciting opportunity for Leitner to expand our portfolio of world-class ropeway projects,” said Thomas Schubert, Export Manager at Leitner. “This system will also set a new standard for tourism development in the region. We look forward to seeing locals and tourists enjoy the ropeway in maximum comfort.”
Italy and the Kurdistan Region have maintained strong ties since the fall of the former Baath regime in 2003. Italy has a consulate general in Erbil, while the KRG has its representation office in Rome.
With a strong emphasis on tourism, infrastructure, and foreign investment, Kurdistan continues to position itself as an economic hub in the region. The upcoming Italian investment in the waterfalls marks another step toward enhancing Kurdistan’s global tourism appeal and reinforcing its economic diversification strategy.