Iraq's Tourism Potential
While it will require further political stability and security, tourism in Iraq stands to be a major growth sector. The Iraqi tourism sector is currently underdeveloped and in a state of neglect, due to decades of war, closed regimes and recurrent...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/03/18107371/iraqs-tourism-potential http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16129 |
| Summary: | While it will require further political
stability and security, tourism in Iraq stands to be a major
growth sector. The Iraqi tourism sector is currently
underdeveloped and in a state of neglect, due to decades of
war, closed regimes and recurrent instability and
insecurity. However, as Iraq continues to develop and
stabilizes, it can begin to meet its tremendous potential as
a global tourist destination, and gain the associated
economic benefits. Long a destination for pilgrims,
non-religious tourism has already begun, albeit in low
numbers. In 2008, 5,000 tourists from the United Kingdom,
Germany, and Ukraine visited Iraq. A more developed tourism
sector in Iraq will play an important role in diversifying
Iraq's economy and providing new private sector jobs,
both in major cities and beyond. Iraq's construction
sector will also benefit directly from the building of
hotels, museums, restaurants, and other attractions as well
as needed infrastructure enhancements. |
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