The Governor of Erbil, Omid Khoshnaw, announced in a press conference that a mass celebration of Nowruz will take place on March 20th at Shandar Public Park and Park Erbil, featuring well-known artists and artistic groups.

The Freedom Festival and Nowruz activities have been ongoing since March 11th and will culminate with the Newroz torch being raised on March 20th.

Tourists have flocked to Erbil to participate in the celebrations, and the Director General of the Department of Arts and Culture in Erbil, Farhank Ghafoor, stated that it has become a tradition for the people of Erbil and other governorates of the Kurdistan Region to organize annual celebrations to welcome Nowruz.

The percentage of foreign tourists visiting the Kurdistan Region has increased this year to 25%, up from 15-18% in previous years, and they are being provided with assistance upon arrival.