Iraq touts attractions for tourists at travel fair for 1st time in decade

“It is our first participation to a travel fair in Europe for more than a decade,” delegation spokesman Hasan Al-Fayadh told AFP by telephone from Amman, where they were waiting for the paperwork to be resolved. Iraq is a well-known destination for religious travel for Muslims from near neighbors like Iran, Pakistan, Bahrain or India, and last year received almost one million tourists, mostly from the Middle East. The tourism delegation's aim now is to capitalize on a fall in violence — although it continues, notably in twin bombings last month that left more than 150 people dead — to woo visitors from further afar.

“Our strategy now is to attract people from other parts of the world, like Europe, North America and Asia, after the security situation has improved,” Al-Fayadh said. Key tourist draws include Babylon, less than 100 kilometers from Baghdad; the ancient city of Ur, the Biblical birthplace of Abraham; and the southern port of Basra, from which Sinbad set sail in “One Thousand and One Nights”.

According to some historians, the Garden of Eden is 80 kilometers north of Basra, the Iraqi delegation said in a statement, adding: “With 5,000 years of history, Mesopotamia is the cradle of civilization.”

Playing down security fears, Fayadh said the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq is “very good, in the south also,” adding: “In the central part of the country, Kerbala and other places are now safer, and in Baghdad. Most of the city is safe. Very few pockets are still dangerous.”

The delegation hoped to arrive on Tuesday evening at the four-day London fair, which opened on Monday.

It is seeking investment to help restore many of Iraq's 784 hotels that have been left in a poor state by the war, as well as expertise to help promote the country as an up-and-coming tourist destination. A number of airlines already fly direct between Europe and Baghdad, from Germany, Turkey and Sweden, as well as other regional airports, while Iraqi Airways and British Airways will shortly be launching services from London.

Some tourist operators are also exploring the relatively peaceful Kurdish region, but only one in Europe currently offers a full Iraqi program. Hinterland Travel, based in Yorkshire, northern England, has run four trips there since March and insists the situation in Iraq is improving.

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