Despite concerns being voiced by local tourism and hotel operators, Karbala’s authorities preferred to downplay any such worries.
“The number of visitors from Iran has barely declined,” insists Karbala central’s mayor, Hassan al-Mankousi. “Hot weather and Ramadan are the main reasons behind the drop in religious tourism.”
Al-Mankousi believes that Iranians will always come to Karbala and that they will be back when the weather cools. “We had a similar situation in 2005 but visitors did return and in huge numbers,” he says.
Local economist Jalal Audeh Nomas wasn’t so sure. “Revenues are declining and this must affect Karbala’s economy,” he told NIQASH. “The fewer tourists and less income, the less money that locals have to spend.”
Nomas believes that the local government should inform visitors from other countries that they will be safe in Karbala and that security conditions here are very different from other parts of Iraq. He also thinks they should spread this message via local and international media as well as encouraging the holding of conferences and seminars to promote religious tourism in Karbala.
via Niqash - economy - Extremists And Errant Cleric Wrecking Karbala’s Tourism-Based Economy.
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