FROM ARMS TO PROSPERITY: A EUROPEAN REPORT INDICATES THAT IRAQ IS BECOMING A TOURIST DESTINATION
The Swiss newspaper “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (NZZ) published a report on Wednesday on the improvement of tourism in Iraq, confirming that the countryhas regained its health and transformed into a center of prosperity after being rife with chaos and scenes of violence and weapons .
“Iraq has put its modern history behind it and is beginning to welcome tourists after it was once seen as hell on earth,” the newspaper reported, translated by Shafaq News Agency. “But the country has regained stability, and the government is working hard to attract visitors,” it said. “Cities like Baghdad and Basra are witnessing remarkable changes, including the renovation of streets and historical sites. Religious sites, especially the shrines in Karbala, attract millions of pilgrims, and the government is seeking to capitalize on their economic and tourism value .”
The report added, “This oil-rich country was widely seen as hell on earth, a place where fanatical militias fought, car bombs exploded daily, and foreign Islamist militants were dressed in orange jumpsuits before being beheaded on camera. Now, all that is changing. After years of utter chaos, Baghdad today enjoys a sense of stability .”
“As a result, the government of Iraq, which was once in chaos, has ambitious plans to turn it into a tourist destination with promising potential,” he noted, explaining that “Mesopotamia is, after all, the cradle of civilization, where agriculture originated and where the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Arabs established great empires .”
He stated that “Iraq has more than 12,000 heritage sites listed on the UNESCO list, including the ruins of Babylon and Ur, and what is believed to be the remains of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Iraqis are famous for their hospitality, and Baghdad was recently chosen as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025, and the government has launched an electronic visa . ”
Baghdad “A Great Adventure “
The report quotes Ahmed Qutaiba, a Baghdadi, who opens his fiery red Dodge Charger, reminiscent of the Fast and Furious movie series, to ferry tourists around Baghdad. He used to work for Oxfam, but now visitors can book him as a tour guide for $250 a day. “I support myself financially,” he says. “I recently had a tour group from Romania, so I had to rent a bus for them .”
He adds, “Baghdad has been through harsh times, with Shiite and Sunni extremists fighting each other and committing massacres against civilians. But after the city repelled an ISIS attack in 2015, things changed. Today, Baghdad is witnessing renewed construction activity, with cranes raising new skyscrapers and highways being built everywhere .”
In the old city center, the government has renovated the famous Mutanabbi Street, where books have been sold for centuries. In the 1960s, Baghdad was one of the cultural capitals of the Middle East. Few traces of this era remain, after the bloodshed in recent years drove many to flee the country. However, intellectuals still reside on Mutanabbi Street .
Karbala is a destination for visitors
The report stated that, “In Karbala, the shrines of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas are located about an hour and a half by car from Baghdad. Its massive mosques with their crystal chandeliers are among the most important shrines for Shia Muslims, with pilgrims flocking from far and wide to Karbala or neighboring Najaf, where Imam Ali is buried. These shrines in central Iraq are among the most visited places in the world .”
He pointed out that “about twenty million visitors visit this place annually, during the month,” noting that “inside the shrine, it is common to see men bursting into tears, or simply sitting on the ground staring into nothingness in astonishment .”
“Outside, things seem simpler. In the streets leading to the holy shrines with their golden domes, vendors sell almost everything, from religious items to clothes and mobile phones, ” he said.
The report quotes Najm, the head of security at one of the shrines in Karbala, as saying, “The establishments surrounding the shrines have long since become huge commercial enterprises. The state is also investing in Karbala, building hotels and restaurants .”
Iraq is a secular state
Iraq was once considered a secular state, with former President Saddam Hussein designating Johnnie Walker whiskey as the national drink. But since his fall, social life has become more restricted, not just in Karbala. The government cracked down on alcohol sales and closed most bars in Baghdad. Since then, Iraqis drink alcohol at home, travel to Kurdish areas of the Kurdistan Region, or visit one of the few hotel bars still open in the capital .
He explained that “at the ‘Happy Times’ bar at the Palestine Hotel, women in elaborate makeup serve small glasses filled with schnapps, while men with mustaches resembling Saddam’s throw wads of counterfeit money into the air .”
“For a long time, this was almost impossible in Iraq,” he explained. “During the dark years of civil war and the ISIS invasion, many Iraqis holed up in their homes, and every step outside was life-threatening. But now, with some stability in the country, people are going out more, as if to make up for lost time. As a result, Baghdad’s restaurants are full, and people are still wandering the streets until late at night .”
Basra is renewed
In Basra, the newspaper quoted Badr, a train manager for 32 years, as saying, “We’ve been working almost constantly, even during the war. The train is a symbol of the Iraqis’ will to resist, and now we hope to welcome visitors from abroad .”
“In Basra, the desire for normalcy is clearly evident. The city, which until recently was considered deserted, is now being revitalized,” the report said. “On the Shatt al-Arab corniche, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow into the Persian Gulf, families stroll along newly paved streets. In the old town, UNESCO has restored some old houses, and there is now a small history museum and a five-star hotel where a Belgian tourist group is staying .”
He stressed that “Basra suffers from air pollution and high temperatures, and climate change threatens the nearby marshes, which are vast swamps teeming with water buffalo and endless reed forests .”