As a way for those in the Region of Kurdistan to move past the trauma and horrors it has experienced in the past, it has been through opening new hiking trails. This has slowly brought more tourism into the region, positively helping the economy grow. The Zagros Mountain Trail is the latest addition; it is 215km long and crosses through 35 different communities in the Kurdistan Iraqi Region. Many visitors have had concerns about the safety of passing through the Region of Kurdistan, as the UK and US State Department have advised against traveling to Iraq due to safety issues, but the creators of the trail have ensured the safety of all travelers passing through. Many homestays and local guides along the trail allow the safety and housing of those traveling through the region on the path. This has shown the positive side of history while giving acknowledgment to those who suffered traveling out of the region during the genocide in the 1980s.

“Kurdistan Opens up an Incredible 200 Km Trekking Route.” Lonely Planet, 13 June 2023, www.lonelyplanet.com/news/zagros-hiking-trail-kurdistan.