Iraq Sets Sights On Becoming A Global Tourism Powerhouse With Millions Of Visitors Annually: Everything You Need To Know

Published on September 22, 2025

Iraq, celebrated for its deep-rooted civilization and ancient history, is progressively welcoming tourists. The federation has a bold scheme to scope ten million yearly visitors by 2035, boosting section occupation maturation and income. The extremity was unveiled by Omar al-Alawi, nan Prime Minister’s apical tourism and antiquities adviser. His announcement elaborate a cautiously thought-out roadmap for promoting divers attractions, from ancient Babylon to nan banks of nan Tigris, turning Iraq into a compelling hotspot for travelers worldwide.

In a speech pinch Shafaq News, Omar al-Alawi highlighted nan important advancement Iraq has made successful caller years, particularly pinch overseas tourer arrivals. Yet, he acknowledged that nan afloat imaginable of nan tourism assemblage has not been realised, pinch figures still good beneath nan 10 cardinal tourer mark. Iraq presently welcomes astir 6 cardinal visitors annually, astir of whom travel for belief reasons, while non-religious tourism is still successful its early stages, attracting less than a cardinal visitors per year.

The caller nationalist tourism strategy intends to remedy this by improving cardinal infrastructure, expanding tourism revenues, and ensuring that nan sector’s publication to Iraq’s gross home merchandise (GDP) reaches astatine slightest 10 percent. This is simply a measurement toward generating arsenic overmuch arsenic 10 USD cardinal annually from tourism, which would supply a important boost to nan nationalist economy.

Strengthening Iraq’s Tourism Infrastructure

A cardinal constituent of nan scheme involves overhauling nan country’s tourism infrastructure to meet nan demands of world visitors. This includes nan improvement of caller hotels, airports, and proscription networks that tin support a higher influx of tourists. In addition, nan authorities plans to modernise its existing tourism offerings by providing amended amenities and services for visitors. With these developments, Iraq hopes to make recreation easier and much accessible for world tourists, some for belief pilgrimages and leisure travel.

A Focus connected Non-Religious Tourism

While Iraq has agelong been a important destination for belief tourism, particularly for those visiting nan beatified cities of Najaf and Karbala, nan authorities intends to grow its attraction to see non-religious tourism. The caller strategy hopes to capitalise connected Iraq’s rich | archaeological and taste heritage, attracting visitors willing successful history, ancient civilisations, and earthy landscapes.

Key non-religious tourer spots for illustration nan ruins of Babylon, nan ancient metropolis and nan unsocial marshlands of confederate Iraq are each being promoted to world visitors. The authorities besides intends to create areas successful and astir Baghdad, Basra, and Erbil arsenic hubs for leisure tourism, encouraging travellers to research beyond nan well-trodden belief sites.

Key Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest successful Iraq

Iraq’s immense history and civilization connection a plethora of attractions for some belief and non-religious tourists. Some of nan cardinal places of liking include:

1. Karbala – A ineffable metropolis for Shia Muslims, location to nan Imam Hussein Shrine, attracting millions of pilgrims annually.
2. Najaf – Another important belief destination, known for nan shrine of Imam Ali, attracting some belief visitors and those willing successful Iraq’s rich | history.
3. Babylon – The ancient city, erstwhile nan bosom of nan Babylonian Empire, offers visitors a chance to research its historical ruins, including nan Ishtar Gate and nan Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
4. Ur – The birthplace of nan prophet Abraham, Ur is an archaeological wealth trove, pinch its ziggurat and ancient ruins attracting visitors from astir nan world.
5. The Marshlands – The UNESCO-listed wetlands of confederate Iraq, which connection stunning earthy beauty and wildlife, attracting eco-tourism.
6. Erbil – The superior of nan Kurdish region, Erbil boasts a rich | taste practice and ancient landmarks for illustration nan Erbil Citadel, 1 of nan oldest continuously inhabited settlements successful nan world.
7. Baghdad – Iraq’s superior city, pinch attractions specified arsenic nan National Museum of Iraq, nan Al-Shaheed Monument, and a burgeoning taste segment that is opening to pull tourists.
8. Samarra – Known for its stunning spiral minaret, Samarra is different tract of awesome belief and architectural significance.
9. Tikrit – The birthplace of Saddam Hussein, Tikrit besides offers rich | archaeological sites and a glimpse into Iraq’s much caller history.
10. Mosul – Although heavy damaged successful caller years, nan historical metropolis of Mosul offers a glimpse into nan ancient Assyrian empire and nan restoration efforts underway.

Government’s Commitment to Boosting Tourism

To execute its extremity of attracting 10 cardinal visitors annually, Iraq’s authorities has pledged to put importantly successful nan tourism sector. This includes improving nan information of recreation wrong Iraq, pinch a attraction connected ensuring that visitors consciousness unafraid successful some municipality and agrarian areas. Enhanced information measures, alongside infrastructure improvements, are expected to make Iraq a much appealing destination for tourists.

The authorities has besides expressed its committedness to promoting Iraq arsenic a taste and humanities hub, ensuring that its rich | history is showcased to nan world. By collaborating pinch world tourism bodies and hosting taste events, Iraq hopes to create a much divers tourism market, pinch offerings for some taste enthusiasts and escapade visitors alike.

Iraq’s Growing Tourism Potential

Iraq’s tourism assemblage has shown awesome committedness successful caller years, but location is still overmuch activity to beryllium done. With its rich | taste heritage, stunning landscapes, and increasing infrastructure, Iraq is well-positioned to go a world tourism hub. The eager target of attracting 10 cardinal visitors annually is simply a testament to nan government’s committedness to nan sector’s future. With nan correct investments successful infrastructure, security, and tourism promotion, Iraq could soon look arsenic 1 of nan Middle East’s apical recreation destinations.

By expanding its tourism experiences and providing options for everyone, whether they’re visiting to study astir ancient faiths aliases simply to marvel astatine unthinkable landscapes, Iraq stands fresh to fortify its system and fto nan world respect its unthinkable history and culture. In nan adjacent 10 years, nan state could genuinely radiance connected nan world stage, welcoming each benignant of traveller to marvel astatine its treasures.