4 days  conference  / 2016

 
I  joined International Conference for Travel Agencies & Tourisms in Kurdistan Iraq.

My flight to Iraq from Istanbul, Turkey.
So surprised to see snow mountain at the border Turkey and Iraq. Also there were many green field.
Japanese have only image of Iraq is hot, dusty, dangerous.

Very modern airport with 6 boarding bridge. Sorry I imagined small airport without boarding bridge.
Erbil city is the 4th biggest city in Iraq and capital of Kurdistan region.

At Erbil airport, nobody waits for me. Just wait for a while.
Many high building in the city center. 

After 30 min later, I found assengers had to move second terminal by bus except VIP.
Erbil airport has 2 terminals for security. I did not know it. I have never heard it. 

The shuttle bus was kind for me, wheelchair users. Good !!

Arrive at 2nd terminal Greeting gate. But nobody waits for me here.

I did not know my hotel name. I did not know any telephone number. I just know where the conference center be held.
To tell the truth, I received VISA just 2 days ago when I was at Japan airport.

Kind airport taxi drivers called the conference center and found my hotel name.
I went to the hotel by taxi. No any announcement at hotel on the day.
Other participants also do not know what time we leave tomorrow. Insha Allah !

Conference day. The road are wide and well designed. Not poor country. It looks rich country.
I do not see second hands old cars in the city. Only new cars. 

Watch the video. Erbil city view from bus.

Kurdish men7s costume. They have own culture, language and clothes.

Conference hall is also modern. There is no ramp at entrance, but a wheelchair toilet on ground floor.

The conference was quite good. Nice speech from Kurdistan region prime minister. 

Many booth and participants. International participants are almost from Iran or Iraq.
Iraq travel agent complains about the permission to enter Kurdistan. 1 country 2 system. 

Traditional cooking. Ladies baked many bread.

Lunch buffet tasted very very nice. 

Afternoon session. Kurdistan Iraq just start to promote tourism. 

Group tour for participants after the conference. We visited a private horse club and watched the perfomance.
Yes, some rich people live in Iraq.

at 20:00, finally we had dinner at a local restaurant.
Kurd dishes were so good. Taste between Turkey and Iran. Better than Arabic foods. I like Kurdish salada.

2nd day we had an open discussion about Kurd tourism. I did 5-10 min short speech in front of 200-300 attendant.

Travel is not only business, it makes peace. Think about accessibility. Make universal design before built.
10% of population have some difficulty of traveling with disability.
Family want to travel with grand parents. 3 generation trip... etc

Many impressed me. You know I am a stranger, Japanese and wheelchair.

2nd day was Iran and north Iraq regions new year's day called Newroz.
People make a fire at the sunset time. We visited a famous park in city center. They celebrate coming spring.

Many children in Kurdistan Iraq. Population under 14 is 36% (data from Board of Investment 2015). That is why many investors come here. Parks have a new play equipment with soft floor. These parks are better than Japan...

Happy new year (3rd week of March) !  Make a fire !!!

At night we visited a new amusement park MAJIDI LAND.
The facility was wheelchair accessible. Many ramps and large toilets. Yes, baby baggy friendly too.

Dinosaur Park is the main attraction here. Flat route. Wheelchair accessible. I was so happy they care about wheelchair users, elderly and baby baggy.

New year dance show. Our group also danced together.

Good bye Kurdistan, Iraq. Kids were playing with airport wheelchairs and carts. Peaceful place.

I did not know many flight to Erbil.

Modern airport. Good service. Many foreign workers here.
My image of Kurd was completely changed after the visit.

Where is Kurdistan region Iraq ?   Check the geography.