Iraq the next tourism hotspot

Iraq is poised to be a future tourism hotspot reveals the WTM Global Trends Report today (Monday 8 November).

Iraq is poised to be a future tourism hotspot reveals the WTM Global Trends Report today (Monday 8 November).

The report, in association with Euromonitor International, shows Iraqi tourism is growing fast with increased airline and hotel capacity following the countryโ€™s successful attendance at World Travel Market 2009 โ€“ its first visit to a travel and tourism trade event for 10 years.

Iraq is exhibiting at a major travel and tourism trade event at WTM 2010 as it looks to negotiate even more investment in its tourism infrastructure following the end of the war in 2003.

Last year a delegation of senior Iraqi officials travelled to World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, to begin the tourism regeneration process and the positioning of Iraq on the world tourism map again.

More than a third of projects planned are already underway including a number of new hotel openings to cater for business and leisure tourism. Major international airlines including Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have also taken the decision to begin flying to the destination once more.

Last year visitors to Iraq totalled 1.3 million with religious tourists, mainly from Iran, accounting for the large part. However, business visitors are also increasing with renewed interest from Gulf investors contributing to the 58% rise in business tourism last year.

International travel agencies including Sharaf Travel (UAE) and Terre Entiรจre (France) set up in Iraq early this year, while Safir Hotels and Resorts have also opened a 340-room property in Karbala.

By 2014, 700 hotels are expected to be open.

Future hotel openings include Rotana, which is to open its first hotel in Erbil before the end of 2010 with additional expansion plans for its Arjaan and Centro brands. Rotana in Baghdad is scheduled for 2012.

Furthermore, the five-star Divan Erbil Park Hotel and Le Royal Park Hotel will open in Erbil in 2011.

World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: โ€œIraqโ€™s decision to bring a delegation to World Travel Market last year was well timed for the destinationโ€™s tourism resurgence. The country offers a diverse mix of history, culture and unique experiences all paving the way for its place as an exciting up and coming destination.โ€

โ€œIraq is exhibiting at WTM 2010 to seek further investment in its tourism industry giving it a great opportunity to become a future tourism hotspot.โ€

Euromonitor International Head of Global Travel and Tourism Research Caroline Bremner said: โ€œIraqโ€™s tourism future looks bright driven by business travel demand. Some 700 tourism accommodation units are expected to spring up in the next four years including big names such as Rotana and Millennium and Copthorne.โ€

Click the link below to view this press release in video format and access the html embed code which will allow to insert this video onto your own website: www.wtmlondon.com/Iraq

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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