Yes, Iraq’s turbulent history is unique, as are some of its domestic challenges, but its aims going forward mirror those of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia and Jordan - to increase tourism (or put a new destination on the map) and foreign investment. Tourism is big business, attributing between 1 – 80% of national GDP’s worldwide, hence every government in the world wanting a sizeable piece of the pie.
Recent international news has been littered with images and sound bites about the enormous amount of construction underway (albeit stalled during the 8 month-long revolution) in Libya. The perception is that Libya wants progress and wants it fast - as do all the others.
There is already talk of aggressive campaigns as each nation seeks to position itself as the next big thing in tourism and boost GDP. There’s a race on, a race to re-shape and re-position the aforementioned nation brands. Who will unite for the greater national good? Which governments will seize the opportunities available to them? Who will not or cannot?
Changing perceptions is what nation branding does – and the closer the perception is to the reality the better. Nobody knows who will succeed on the new world tourism front yet, but something worth considering is the appetite size of those in the race.
Iraq isn’t the only nation in the region that’s re-positioning itself now - the competition is on the rise. Come on brand Iraq – take note!
Lisa Knight is Creative Director & Founder of The Brand Foundation, a Dubai-based branding agency. Prior to that, Lisa led the creative team of the UK’s governing political party, firstly under Rt. Hon Tony Blair and latterly, Rt. Hon Gordon Brown. Lisa’s career spans 17 years and numerous industries; arts & entertainment, business & finance, fashion, travel, youth, sport & international development.
[...] blog was first published in Iraq Business News. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]
Well said Lisa ...
I think after this year espicially when there is kind of absence of United State because of Iraq war there is new generation of govrements will be generated in middle east controlling by New Islamics who have two faces to deal with west the first one is the radical and other one who want to give the west new impression that Islamics are not danger as what the former president in Egypt, Tunis or Libya used to give west, but the fact is the United State and Europe have to be patient about 2-4 years to find out that all what happend in the spring 2011 will go to the bennefit of AL QAYEDA, soon ir later they will dominate on the govrenment of both of Egypt and Lybia, I am not defending on Mubarak regieme but we need to dela with new situation carefully.