Iraq – Ancient City of Babylon
After decades of constant turmoil, the Iraqi government is gradually improving on many levels, under the tireless efforts of the Iraqi government to ensure the country’s security and stability and openness to foreign investment and tourists from all over the world. But where is tourism? ?
Given Iraq’s rich and unique tourism potential in various tourism sectors, starting with religious and cultural tourism and specialty tourism, tourism remains an important part of the equation as the oil-dependent nation plans to diversify its revenue streams tributary. sights, where there are vast swamps and deserts, and about various ruins and ruins of ancient cities associated with the oldest empires.
These figures show that, with the number of foreign tourist arrivals gradually increasing, and the Iraqi government working hard to correct the negative mental image many people have of the situation in Iraq, Iraqis are generally eager to improve the status quo of the tourism industry, especially after defeating the “Islamic State” and to a large extent. after the stabilization has been restored.
Meanwhile, Iraq is taking targeted initiatives to improve the sector, the latest of which is the recent announcement by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of a strategic plan aimed at improving the sector. In this context, Deputy Secretary of State Qassem Soudani was quoted by the Iraqi News Agency as saying:
- A promising strategy has been developed, focusing on all areas of religious, archaeological and environmental tourism.
- Government programs include archaeological tourism, and the Prime Minister has issued important directives to focus on tourism.
- This trend is supported by Iraq’s rich archaeological sites and ancient museums, which attract tourists from all over the world.
- The tourism industry has important diversity and a promising plan is needed to implement it.
wide retreat
At the moment, tourism is in a clear decline, while the main criterion remains how far the safety level has progressed, especially since a full return to stability in the country will revive hopes for tourism.
Dr Ghazi Faisal, director of the Center for Strategic Studies in Iraq, confirmed this in an exclusive statement to the Sky News Arab Economy website, noting that “security and stability have not yet been achieved due to militias and organized crime” and the mafia still threatens stability . “
After hosting the Gulf Football Championship for the first time in more than 40 years, hopes are finally being revived for the country’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on tourism from the Gulf.
Tournament “Gulf 25” revives tourism in Basra
However, some tourism sectors have seen more activity than others, Faisal explained, referring to the activity of religious tourism in the country. But at the same time, he noted that other sectors, such as antiquities-related tourism movements, “do not exist” given the “insecurity” within the country.
On the other hand, the director of the Center for Strategic Studies in Iraq ruled out a tourism campaign in the resorts of the Kurdistan region. “The popularity is due to the experience and commitment to this.”
government program
Reuters quoted Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Dr Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani as saying:
- Work is underway to build new hotels to meet growing demand, and to refurbish tourist attractions and heritage buildings.
- With the arrival of more tourists, Iraq’s battlefield image in the West will gradually change.
- Tourists are messengers to these countries, and Iraq has returned to a safe country, which is no longer the red line drawn by some.
In this regard, Iraq benefits from the role of social media, which conveys images that differ from the negative psychological images that make Iraq synonymous with war and destruction, as many tourists are keen to share their travel experiences there.
Meanwhile, many governments are still issuing travel warnings to Iraq. For security reasons.
The US has warned its citizens not to travel to Iraq due to “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict and civil unrest”. European governments have also issued warnings to their citizens. Yet despite these warnings, some foreign tourists from the US and Europe are tempted by the spirit of adventure.
And internally, many of Iraq’s travel and tourism companies face widespread challenges, noted in a report by the Center for Economic and Political Affairs in Iraq earlier this year, which said the total number of companies reached 978, compared with the total number of companies in the past 10 years. As many as 453 companies have closed due to bankruptcy or falling profits. The report mentions that the industry is affected by weak government support.
tourist attractions
On the other hand, in an exclusive statement to the Sky News Arab Economy website, Dr. Rad Azawi, director of the Amsar Research Center, noted that the momentum witnessed by religious tourism is in Iraq, while noting that due to the country’s rich With its unique topography and special geographical properties, the industry as a whole enjoys a wide range of opportunities in attracting foreign tourism as well as domestic tourism.
In addition, he noted that “there are important summer resorts in the north of Iraq, lakes in the south, and a large expanse of water bodies and marshes…etc” and highlighted the sector’s past successes. Two years of positive results, with a steady increase in tourist numbers, especially in the northern part of Iraq which still attracts a large number of tourists and, given the capacity of the country in terms of infrastructure, hotels and airports, can accommodate large groups.
Azawi does not believe that some people’s mental image of the situation inside Iraq and the US warnings and warnings to its citizens have affected the flow of tourists, explaining that the return of stability in the country has helped the flow of tourists. tourists.
Quoting here is the official estimate revealed by Lieutenant General Abdul Karim al-Sudani, the security adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister, recently reported in the media as follows:
- More than 2.5 million foreigners visited the country in the six months from November 15, 2022 to May 15, 2023.
- 312,000 of the Arab tourists who visited the country during the said period.
According to data from the Government Tourism Office in 2021, more than 107,000 tourists entered Iraq, of which more than 300 came from France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and Turkey, compared with about 30,000 in 2020.
Speaking about Iraq’s capabilities and the sector’s activities, the head of the Amsar Research Center noted that the country had recently hosted two important sporting events. The first is to host the Gulf Cup Football Championship (Gulf 25), with an audience of about 300,000, and the West Asia Championship, which attracts about 50,000 foreign spectators.
Winter tourism in Iraqi Kurdistan thrives on snow
Not enough effort…the challenge is huge
Wissam Alshiro, director of the Iraqi Economic and Political Center, said in an exclusive statement to Sky News Arab Economics that “the efforts of the tourism board are relatively laudable, but not enough”. and explained:
- Iraq is filled with many tourist attractions, especially given the history of successive civilizations.
- The biggest problem has to do with the interest of successive governments in the tourism archives, because from their perspective they were focused on issues of greater importance than the sector.
- The government has a number of programs related to supporting the tourism industry, but in reality the sector has been neglected, most worryingly about safety issues and related incidents.
- Previously there had been a Ministry of Tourism, but during the past four governments, it became an “agency” under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities following a merger of ministries to reduce spending.
Al-Helou added: “From 2022 to 2023, a relative shift begins as Arab and foreign delegations visit various tourist attractions across the North and South, but the infrastructure is not yet ready or due to lack of government support for the industry. Support without sufficient qualifications and therefore no hotels.” The elevated terrain and proximity to many important archaeological sites make it difficult for visitors to stay at a particular site for more than a day.
At the same time, he spoke of the role of barriers faced by the marginalized private sector in this situation and stressed that “tourism in Iraq needs a physical, programmatic, human and cultural renaissance.”
At the same time, he also spoke about the difficulties faced and lack of government support since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more travel and tourism companies have been forced to close.
Alhrou concluded his interview with Sky News Arab Economy by referring to the momentum generated by Iraq’s recent hosting of the Gulf Cup tournament, in terms of defining the nature of Iraq and its people(..), especially given the media focus on this , but the momentum has not continued in the same way. Rhythm after the game, while explaining that six months ago, many tourists from European countries arrived in Iraq by car and started camping in some places. These are positive things and constitute opportunities, but these things face a weak role from the government, he said.