TOURISM SECTOR AND ITS IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SULAYMANIYAH PROVINCE: AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF THE PERIOD 2007–2016

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine the tourism sector and its impact on economic development in Sulaimaniyah province. For this purpose, the study collected two different types of data, first one official records, and second through questionnaire forms which are distributed among 36 survey sample to the tourism authority in Sulaimaniyah province as the whole study population. Using the analytical method employed to examine the study hypotheses, the study realizes that the tourism sector has an economic potential in the region and might play a significant role in reaching the critical macroeconomic objectives of macroeconomic development. The study identified that the natural beauties in Sulaimaniyah province attracts tourists. The study found a significant correlation between the tourism sector development and potential to attract tourists in Sulaimaniyah. Tourism sector impact to contribute to economic development is 65.2% from the perspectives of tourism authorities in Sulaimaniyah.