Iraq, often referred to as the cradle of civilization, offers a rich tapestry of history and culture that attracts adventurous travelers. From the ancient ruins of Babylon and the legendary city of Ur to the bustling markets of Baghdad, Iraq is a treasure trove of archaeological wonders. The country also boasts religious significance with sacred sites such as Najaf and Karbala, attracting pilgrims from around the world. Tourists can explore the marshlands of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known for their unique ecosystem, or wander through the Kurdish regions’ scenic landscapes. Despite past conflicts, Iraq’s historical and cultural significance makes it a fascinating destination for those seeking to explore the roots of human history.
Iraq stands as the cradle of many of the world’s earliest civilizations, including the Babylonians and Assyrians. The country hosts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and boasts tens of thousands of archaeological sites scattered across its landscape. Up until the late 1970s, Iraq ranked as one of the premier tourist hotspots in the Middle East, thanks to its rich array of historical, religious, and pilgrimage sites, snow-capped mountains peaking at 3,500 meters, and vibrant ancient towns and bazaars.
The Travel & Tourism sector in Iraq is poised for substantial revenue growth in the near future. Projections indicate that by 2024, revenues will hit US$1,857.00m, with an annual growth rate of 6.47%, leading to a market volume of US$2,386.00m by 2028. The Package Holidays segment, the largest within the market, is set to reach US$932.90m in 2024, with user numbers expected to climb to 6,908.00k by 2028. Furthermore, the user penetration rate is anticipated to rise from 18.3% in 2024 to 20.6% by 2028.
Greece and Iraq agreed to update a 1981 tourism agreement through a new memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement focuses on renewing cooperation to enhance bilateral ties, with priorities including the initiation of direct flights between Athens and Baghdad, boosting tourist exchanges, sharing expertise, and fostering private sector partnerships.
In a significant development, Iraq has given the green light to the construction of a tourism resort and a residential complex at a historical port in Basra, located in the southern oil hub. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance and expand several of the OPEC producer’s ports, including ambitious projects to construct one of the world’s largest container terminals and a 1,200-km railway connecting Basra to Turkey in the north.
The Iraqi Minister of Culture and Tourism announced that over 400,000 European tourists have visited Iraq since the start of the year. He emphasized the critical need to implement strategies to boost tourism and attract more visitors. Annually, over four million foreign pilgrims visit Iraq’s sacred sites, while thousands of tourists from Asia come to explore the nation’s archaeological treasures, which include around 15,000 sites.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) declared that the region has welcomed 1.7 million tourists since the start of the New Year. During the Islamic feast of Eid al-Fitr, which commenced on April 10, approximately 200,000 tourists visited the region, contributing to a total of 1.7 million visitors in 2024 thus far. The KRG has set an ambitious target to draw 20 million tourists annually by 2030. Tourism figures show that the region hosted 4 million visitors in 2021, which escalated to 6 million in 2022 and surged further to 7.279 million in 2023. Additionally, 2.5 million residents of the region participated in local travel and tourism activities.
In southern Iraq, plans have been approved for the construction of a tourism resort and a residential complex at a former port in the oil-rich city of Basra, according to a government official.
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Plan to visit Iraq for business purposes, you must obtain an Iraq Business visa from the Iraqi embassy in London, UK. GulfVisa, an accredited visa agent in the UK, offers this service for individuals traveling to Iraq. They can secure the visa and handle the entire process for you, saving you the time and hassle of navigating the procedure on your own. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance and expand key ports in Iraq, including the construction of one of the world’s largest container terminals and a 1,200-kilometer railway that will connect Basra to Turkey in the north.
