Introduction
Contemporary Iraq strives to rebuild its economy, and tourism can be a significant source of revenue for the country. This report is aimed at examining the positive and negative aspects of tourism in Iraq. In particular, it is necessary to focus on the factors that can contribute to the development of this industry in the country. Furthermore, special attention should be paid to obstacles that can prevent the Iraqi tourist industry from developing. These are the main issues that should be discussed in this report.
Positive Aspects
The rich cultural heritage of the country
When speaking about the development of the tourist industry in Iraq, one should first remember that the country has a very rich cultural heritage of more than two millennia. In the past, its territory belonged to many powerful and developed states such as the Abbasid and Ottoman Empires, and there are many sites that can be of great interest to tourists. In particular, one can mention such locations as the Erbil Citadel, Al-Askari Mosque, Ishtar Gate, and some other sites that represent different historical and cultural periods (McGahey 235). Moreover, it should be mentioned that Bagdad is one of the most ancient cities in the world, and its origins can be traced to the eighth century before the Common Era. The architectural monuments located in Bagdad can greatly appeal to visitors from different countries. Thus, reach the cultural legacy of Iraq can be the basis for the tourist industry in the country.
Additionally, it should be noted that Iraq has a great number of natural sites, such as deep canyons, alpine canyons, or lake resorts that are located in Kurdistan (McGahey 236). Thus, people should not assume that one can find only architectural monuments in Iraq. The nature of this country can also be very appealing.
Iraq as an attraction for pilgrims
One should also mention that Iraq can attract the attention of many people who want to undertake a religious pilgrimage (Bianchi 58). Moreover, these people can represent both Islam and Christianity. It is worth noting that there are several religious sites that can attract many Muslim pilgrims, namely, the Great Mosque of Kufa, which is one of the oldest religious monuments in Islam (Bosworth 295). Thus, Muslims, living in different countries, may choose to visit this place. Furthermore, Iraq homes one of the oldest Orthodox Christian monasteries in the world, and it may be visited by many Europeans who are interested in the history of early Christianity (Augustin and Jake 103). Thus, one should not assume that the history of Iraq can be reduced only to Islam because the history of the country is very diverse. Furthermore, people who are interested in religious pilgrimage may consider Iraq because this country can offer them many things. This is another tourist attraction that one can advertise.
Investments aimed at developing tourism infrastructure
There is another factor that may contribute to the development of tourist industry in the country. In particular, the government of the country recognizes the importance of tourism for the economic life of Iraq (Is Iraq the Next Tourism Hot Spot 5). This is why they are going to invest capital in the construction of more than 700 hotels (Is Iraq the Next Tourism Hot Spot 5). Thus, visitors from other countries can find a place that can fit their income level (Is Iraq the Next Tourism Hot Spot 5). So, one can argue that the government of this country is interested encouraging tourism from abroad to visit historical and religious monuments of Iraq.
Economic potential of the country
Furthermore, Iraq has economic capabilities to develop the tourist infrastructure. This country has one of the richest oil reserves in the world, and the government may accumulate sufficient capital in order to built hotels, roads, telecommunication, and so forth. They are essential for attracting people from foreign countries. Provided that this country does not face political and military instability, they are very likely to provide more opportunities to foreign visitors. So, economic potential can be an indispensible condition for success of the tourist industry of Iraq.
Negative Aspects
Safety concerns of many tourists
One of the most important obstacles to the tourism industry is the safety concerns of many people who are afraid of going to Iraq (Hall 3). Many tourists are not convinced that the government of Iraq can ensure their safety; this is why they do not pay much attention to religious or cultural sites of this country. Such an attitude is quite understandable because people are usually risk-averse. The war which broke out in 2001 resulted in the overturn of regime lead by Saddam Hussein. Since that time the country has fallen victim to many terrorist attacks, and these events have made people very wary of Iraq. This is the most important risk that people should be aware of. For many people Baghdad is related to war, but they tend to overlook the fact that this city is the heir of the ancient Babylon.
Infrastructure problems
It should also be admitted that at this point the tourist infrastructure of Iraq is not sufficiently developed, especially after the war that engulfed this country. For example, one can point out that the communication system of the country needs requires significant repair (Rowell 110). In this context, the term communication system includes roads, bridges, telecommunications, airports, and many other public utilities that are important for tourists (Rowell 110). This is another reason why many people may be reluctant to go to Iraq and this problem should be addressed as soon as possible.
Lack of awareness about the tourists sites of Iraq
There is another obstacle that can hinder the growth of tourism industry in Iraq. Many people are not aware of the tourist attractions that are available in this country. For many of them this country is associated with war, civilian casualties, or terrorism. They do not know that it also hosts mosques, monasteries, and other historical sites. Moreover, they do not much about the history of this country.
Conclusion
Overall, these examples indicate that Iraq has a significant potential for becoming an important destination for tourists. The cultural heritage of Iraq and its economic capacity can make the country very attractive to people from many countries. By visiting Iraq, people can see the richness and diversity of non-Western countries. Yet, there are several problems that should be addressed, namely the lack of infrastructure and the fear of terrorism. Provided that the government manages to overcome these problems, they can make the country more attractive to people from abroad.
Works Cited
Augustin, Byron and K. Jake. Iraq, New York: Children’s Press, 2006. Print.
Bianchi, Robert. Guests of God: Pilgrimage and Politics in the Islamic World, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print.
Bosworth, Clifford. Historic Cities of the Islamic World, BRILL, 2007. Print.
Hall, Michael. Safety and Security in Tourism: Relationships, Management, and Marketing. New York: Routledge, 2004. Print.
“Is Iraq The Next Tourism Hot Spot?.” Canadian Travel Press 44.1 (2011): 5. Print.
McGahey, Stan. “Tourism Development In Iraq: The Need For Support From International Academia.” International Journal Of Tourism Research 8.3 (2006): 235-239. Print.
Rowell, Rebecca. Iraq, New York: ABDO, 2011. Print.