More than 40,000 tourists entered Iraqi Kurdistan Region for the New Year celebrations, roughly four times as many as the previous record, AKnews reports. The press secretary for the Kurdistan General Tourism Board, Nadr Rosti, told the news agency that in 2011 more than 10,000 tourists visited Kurdistan during the New Year. But in the […]
Karbala relies heavily on Iranian pilgrims to important religious sites in the area. But hotel owners are crying foul: they say Iranians are openly monopolizing tourism in Karbala and covertly buying up local properties, according to this article from Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views […]
The Minister of Tourism, Liwaa Sumaisem, has announced plans to develop Iraq’s tourism sector – currently dominated by religious tourism - to include archeological and eco-tourism. He told AKnews that a law will soon be passed empowering the ministry to develop the nature reserves and visitor centers at the country’s archeological sites. The holy cities […]
Kurdistan Region Tourism Minister, Samir Abdullah Mustafa, yesterday called on British investors to make the most of the opportunity to invest in Kurdistan’s tourist sector at a conference in London. Setting out plans to build 2,500 new hotels to accommodate another 1.35 million visitors annually by 2015, the Minister also highlighted existing success stories within […]
Nineveh Investment Commission announced this week that it had signed investment contracts with two German companies to build tourist facilities on the banks of the Tigris River. Jabor Abed Rabu, Chairman of the Commission, told AKnews that the companies involved are Zalmania and Backmana, but the value of the contracts were not disclosed. "The two […]
The media secretary at the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry for Tourism said on Saturday that nearly 37,000 tourists visited Kurdistan during Eid al-Adha. Kan'an Baha'addin told AKnews during the four days of the Eid 15,000 tourists visited Erbil province, 13,000 Dohuk, and 8,500 Sulaimaniya. Eid al-Adha is an Islamic celebration that takes place at the […]
After eight months it seems that finally we are close to an agreement on the formation of the next Iraqi government. When the talks finally reach a conclusion, there's a long list of issues to be addressed by the incoming government, not least of which is Iraq's abysmal ranking in the World Bank's latest Doing […]
The group of US investors held talks with local officials in Basra about establishing a tourist project on Sindbad Island [Sinbad Island], a source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Wednesday. A delegation from the group discussed the project with Basra's Governor, Shaltagh Abboud, and Deputy Chairman of Basra Council, Ahmad al-Sulieti. “The project includes […]
Iraq is poised to be a future tourism hotspot, reveals the new WTM Global Trends Report. The report, in association with Euromonitor International, shows Iraqi tourism is growing fast with increased airline and hotel capacity following the country’s successful attendance at World Travel Market 2009 – its first visit to a travel and tourism trade […]
Leading emerging markets insurance provider launches dedicated travel insurance website for Iraq Intrepid adventurers and culture vultures can now add Iraq to list of ‘must visit’ destinations Easy on-line access to tourist insurance [Picture: Ishtar Gate, Babylon, built circa 575 B.C.] AAIB Insurance Brokers, the leading international insurance broker for Iraq, has launched the first […]
The Kurdistan Regional Government has requested declarations of interest from companies wishing to participate in tourism projects in the Dukan region (pictured). The following is the un-edited text of their announcement: Declaration to all investment companies, local and foreign businesses: Within the ongoing efforts of the Kurdistan Regional Government and direct supervision of the Directorate […]
An official in Diwaniya said on Friday evening that the Iraqi Ministry of Tourism has allocated 3.5bn Iraqi Dinars (ID) [$3m] to the rehabilitation of the Neipur [Nippur] archaeological city south of Diwaniya, 180 km south of Baghdad. Dakhil al-Kanani, the head of the Supreme Committee of the Niepur cultural festival in Diwaniya province told […]
