Iraq: Dream Holiday Destination?
Shining sun, beautiful seas and major improvements on 2005’s “70 to 80 per cent chance you will be okay” according to the Chairman of Iraq’s tourist board Hammoud al-Yaqoubi, who is this week promoting his country at the World Travel Market in London.
“We have the infrastructure for tourism in Iraq,” said Mr al-Yaqoubi. “We are optimistic about turning the tourism industry into a success.” Unfortunately, the Chairman could not make the first day of the World Travel Market after becoming stranded in Amman, the capital of Jordan, while waiting for a British visa.
The board hopes to find travel agents from all over the world willing to take tourists into Iraq at the London show, which is attended by nearly 50,000 travel industry professionals. While security is described only as “a minor problem”, independent travellers are still barred from entry.
Other industry members seem sceptical. Tim Moore, managing director of online travel magazine Toursmart, suggests that Iraq would need at least two or three years without “people still being blown up” before it could be sold as a place to visit. Nasser Aref Zaatarah, head of Zaatarah & Co, which offers tours across the Middle East, has organised trade delegations to Baghdad and commented on its suitability for tourism.
“There’s no direct flights. It’s hard to get insurance. When you get there you can’t move around. You can’t go shopping or sightseeing. I don’t think this is the correct time to promote it as a tourist destination.”
However, one tour operator at yesterday’s fair is ready to bring British holidaymakers to one of the world’s most dangerous countries. Geoffrey Hann, head of Hinterland Travel, has led tours of Iraq for 30 years and was in charge of a group of eight who visited in March. He has already received bookings for next year.
“It’s mostly old people,” he said. “They just want to see a country they have not been allowed to get to.”
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wow , that would be most exciting tourism! any one have i
Join the marines and you can take a long holiday there.
The forecast calls for slight bombings and bullets with a chance of TANKS!