The security situation is also the reason why the tourists from France, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands did not reveal further details of their visit. Most European embassies discourage their nationals from entering these areas.
“The local government is well aware of people’s desire to see the marshes but because the eastern marshes border on Iran, this causes problems,” concedes Ali Hassan Karam, the head of the provincial council’s committee for tourism. “Given the location, the border patrol checks the names of those who want to come here very closely.”
Having said that, Karam says that the council is trying to ensure that any tourists who do come, have the best security.
The marshes have everything they need to attract tourists, local environmental activist, Ahmad Saleh, says: Wildlife, water, food and a distinctive local culture. But they lack the appropriate services. “Young people here should be trained to work as tour guides and some facilities need to be built, including bus stops and rest stops for the travellers. Better boats are also need for the tourists,” Saleh suggests. At the moment the tourists travel in ordinary fishing boats, hired from locals for the duration of the visit.
For some of the visitors though, this was perfect.
“There are people who go to the mountains or to cities but the marshes have a special magic,” says Najwa Ibrahim, 40, an Iraqi woman who now lives in the United Arab Emirates. “They are so natural and untouched. That’s why I came.”
Comments are closed.