Exactly eight years ago we asked ourselves the same question: What is happening in Iraq? Ten years had passed since the death of Saddam Hussein, and the country appeared once again to have entered a delicate cycle marked by the impossibility of providing a stable government and a tamed breeding ground with external religious leaders taking advantage of local discontent. Today, Iraq maintains a complex political situation but seems to be unexpectedly turning to an unprecedented sector: a tourism destination.

The West is rediscovering Iraq. There is no doubt that we are faced with one of the “cradles” of civilization, and this is a business in a period when a certain stability is achieved. In fact, Iraq is attracting increasing numbers of Western tourists despite security warnings and legal challenges.

Historical places such as Babylon, the Mesopotamian Marshes or the mountains of Kurdistan are easy to promote. In other words, the country offers a unique journey into the history and culture that gave rise to some of the first human civilizations. However, recent conflicts and its international image present challenges for the development of this apparent tourism industry.

Attraction and legal dilemmas. Although governments such as the US, Spain and the UK currently classify Iraq as a “no travel” destination due to possible threats of terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict, the country appears to be experiencing relative stability since the defeat. Islamic State in 2017.

This has been added to visa on arrival for various nationalities since 2021, facilitating the flow of international visitors. However, a paradox and dilemma emerged for Western tourists in Iraq. This enclave offers some of the wonders of civilization, but it is also home to laws such as criminalizing relationships between people of the same sex or the possible approval of amendments that could allow child marriage. These are just two examples of measures that, while not stopping tourist interest, cause ethical dilemmas for travelers.

Kurdistan Mountains

Culture and religion. As we said, Iraq hosts a unique cultural and religious heritage. Places such as the Garden of Eden, the Sumerian ruins at Ur, or the majestic mosques in cities such as Karbala and Najaf attract the attention of tourists and pilgrims alike.

To give us an idea, more than 21 million people attended Arbaeen, one of the largest religious pilgrimages in the world, in 2024. In this regard, places such as the Great Mosque of Samarra and Shiite shrines impress both with their architecture and the devotion they create among believers. Additionally, initiatives such as the construction of a new church in Ur aim to attract more Christian pilgrims.

New forms of tourism. It seems to be the other leg that lifts the industry in the region. So-called adventure tourism is growing in Iraq. Like? Companies like Untamed Borders have introduced activities like skiing in the mountains of Kurdistan and hiking the newly opened Zagros Mountains Trail.

Moreover, the latter connects remote communities via ancient pilgrimage routes, offering visitors a unique experience in a magnificent natural environment. Moreover, there are events that promote sports tourism in the region, such as the Erbil Marathon.

Kurdistan is the epicenter of tourism. CNN, in a report on startups, said that if one were to name one place above all others, it was Kurdistan. It has been leading the country’s tourism renaissance with its political stability and autonomy since 2005. Here, cities like Erbil are experiencing an unprecedented boom, with more than 2 million visitors in the first half of 2024.

In fact, the region aims to reach 20 million annual tourists by 2030, with a combination of international and domestic visitors. It seems that this may be possible by facilitating infrastructure investments such as new hotels and tourist routes.

“Buts”. Although there is no doubt that Iraq has huge tourism potential, its sector still faces challenges. In addition to what was explained above about the venue’s own policies, there is another economic type. Many archaeological sites lack funding and maintenance, while others are still being rebuilt after years of conflict.

Moreover, Iraq’s image is still associated with war and violence, a stigma that local tour operators are trying to change. In this context, Al Makhzomy, founder of Bil Weekend tourism company, emphasized that Iraq has “more than a thousand stories to tell”, but they should be discovered by those who want to go beyond negative news.

It seems that as the country stabilizes, tourism is emerging as an important tool to revitalize its economy and show a new face to the world. The slogan “Iraq, the holiday destination”, which seemed like a dystopia until 10 years ago, aims to be the rising region of the sector.

Image | GetArchive, Adnan Moradi

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