Economic Update – Baghdad
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities has reported the entry of over 500 European and American tourists into Iraq within the past year. For 2025, the ministry anticipates a significant increase in these numbers, attributing this growth to Iraq’s burgeoning tourism sector alongside notable economic and political stability.
In 2024, 556 foreign tourists journeyed to Iraq primarily to explore its archaeological sites, with a particular focus on historical sites such as Babylon, Ur, the National Museum, Al-Mustansiriya School, and Akkov.
Authorities have noted an uptick in tourism interest, particularly in Babylon. Visitors from various countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States, have contributed to this trend.
Murad emphasized that the Tourism Authority has devised plans to enhance marketing efforts aimed at foreign tourists, coinciding with Baghdad being designated as the capital of Arab tourism for 2025. The authority has actively participated in several international travel exhibitions, such as one held in Madrid, where agreements between Iraqi travel and tourism companies and their foreign counterparts were established. There are also plans to participate in upcoming exhibitions in Berlin, London, and Dubai. Murad reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to collaborating with the private sector to bolster Iraq’s tourism industry.
Furthermore, the authority is focusing on revising visa procedures to ease tourist entry and is continuously upgrading tourist facilities and infrastructure across the country. This ongoing development, coupled with political and economic stabilization, positions Iraq as a key tourism destination in the region.
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