IRAQ | Tourism & Archaeology

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Iraq premiere at world's biggest tourism fair

BERLIN, Mar 09, 2011 (AFP) - The world's biggest tourism fair, the ITB Berlin, opened Wednesday with an Iraqi stand for the first time, eight years after the toppling of Saddam Hussein and the turmoil that followed.

"This is the first participation in Iraq's history," Fadhil Al-Saaehg, chief executive of Najaf-based tourism firm Al-Rafidain, told AFP. "This is an ideal chance for Iraq to start interacting with the rest of the world."

He added: "Iraq has come out not just of one war but out of many wars and political unrest dating back 30 or 40 years. So right now is the time that everything is starting to fall into place."

The company offers a 13-day tour taking in the site of the ancient city of Babylon, parts of Kurdistan in the north, Mosul, the former Parthian stronghold and UNESCO world heritage site of Hatra, as well as Baghdad.

"Almost every city has a historical background dating back thousands of years," he said, noting: "Iraqi civilisation is over 7,000 years old. We have 18,000 archaelogical sites."

And he says that visitors do not have to worry about security or comfort. The country already boasts several five-star hotels, and more are planned.

"Right now the hotels in Baghdad are not what Western tourists might be used to, but we are working on them," Al-Saaehg said.

Already the country receives around 5,000 tourists every day, around 10 percent of whom are from Europe, North America and Australasia, he said.

His company's first participation at an international trade fair was at London's World Travel Market (WTM) in late 2010. It also plans appearances in Paris, Moscow, Italy, Spain and Dubai.

The ITB in the German capital, open to trade visitors from Wednesday and the public from Saturday, includes more than 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and hopes to attract 180,000 visitors by the time it closes on Sunday.
-AFP

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Germans build tourist sites in Iraq

By Rezan Ahmed

Nineveh, Feb. 16 (AKnews) - The Chairman of Nineveh Board announced on Wednesday, that the board signed today investment contracts with two German companies to build tourist facilities on the banks of the Tigris River in the province.

Jabor Abed Rabu told AKnews that Zalmania and Backmana German companies have signed investment contracts today to build tourist facilities by German designs on the banks of the Tigris River in the province, but the value of the contract was not disclosed.

"The two companies will build tourist facilities next July," adding that "Nineveh Council will provide all facilities and support necessary requirements to facilitate the work of these companies and complete the project."

"The Council also received delegations from other German companies to discuss other opportunities to invest in the city."

Mosul, 405 km north of Baghdad is from the tourist cities in Iraq, they contain a lot of monuments, religious and popular markets, as well as forests, but they are neglected and suffer from lack of services, especially after the events of 2003.

© AK News 2011

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The newly opened Babylon museum set to be a tourist hot-spot:

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Tourism needs a revolution and a new beginning in Iraq

Wednesday, 30 March 2011 12:40

Shafaq conducted the following dialogue with the tourist researcher Majid al-Azzawi about tourism affair:…

*At the beginning , could you inform us about the most important types of tourism in Iraq?
- Concerning Iraq, there are possibilities of tourism types to be established , especially religious tourism as Iraq possesses different religious sites and tombs for all religions. Religious tourism almost is the key Tourism in Iraq amounting 90% of the tourist activity in addition to cultural tourism, or archaeological tourism which some schools consider as cultural tourism because antiquities are part of the elements of culture or civilization.
Q: Is there a plan to introduce and develop new tourist sites?
- Yes Jadriyya Lake is one of the sites developed relatively and receive a lot of visitors in Baghdad, but our ambition that the reception is more within the plan of the Tourism Authority and I do not want to speak as an administrator but as a tourist technician to say that it is now offered for tourist investment in order to be developed and to raise the levels of the services provided.

Q: What is the cause of interest declining in tourism in Rasafa?
- Baghdad island is a part of Rasafa but relatively it is unaffected as a result of emergency circumstances and the issues of checkpoints, which cost visitors time and efforts. Baghdad Kirk and Rasafa need facilities and we hope the private sector gets the main role of this aspect. There are projects but they have not been implemented so far being as an ink on paper.

* Do we need a revolution in tourism?
- Surely we need a revolution in tourism, but unfortunately, oil became a negative influential factor for tourism although it is supposed to be a positive factor . Iraq is rich and it should use the oil to develop the infrastructure and services; but the country's depending on oil is affecting tourism negatively ,so tourism has become a secondary activity .

Q: What are the future plans for tourism development in Iraq?
- We tend to privatize tourist education. It is acceptable that the private sector to establish institutes of tourism in the governorates which we support technically and Tourism Authority has got now a tourism project and an ambition to open intensive courses in the governorates to prepare a service cadre to work in the hotels particularly in the religious areas

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Iraq to make Arabian Travel Market debut

March 17, 2011

Arabian Travel Market, the leading travel exhibition in the Middle East, welcomes representatives from the Iraqi travel sector to the show in Dubai for the first time this May.

The Iraq tourism board/ Al Rafidain Company for travel and tourism, has confirmed 100 square metres of exhibition space and is poised to revive its travel and tourism sector. This development is bolstered by its recent nomination as a tourism hotspot of the future in the recent WTM Global Trends Report, compiled in association with Euromonitor.

The country is seeing significant renewed investment worth billions of dollars in tourism infrastructure, while increasing air links have helped fuel business travel to the country. According to Euromonitor, business tourism to Iraq rose by 58% in 2009, and both regional and European airlines have begun new services to airports throughout Iraq to capitalise on this demand.

According to Mark Walsh, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the opportunity for involvement in the country’s economic revival has excited investors. Combined with strong demand from the religious tourism sector, this has prompted hotel developers to move into Iraq.

Mark Walsh

“There were more than 1.3 million visitor arrivals during 2009, and while religious tourists from Iran accounted for 75% of these, the potential to increase these figures is vast given a projected GDP growth of 7% annually along with projects such as a new oil export terminal in Basra and a new port facility at Umm Qasr,” he said.

“With a projected investment in the hospitality sector in Iraq expected to amount to billions of dollars, Iraq travel representatives have an opportunity to inform the international and regional travel trade about opportunities for inbound and even outbound travel, looking ahead.”

Airline activity has also been boosted significantly in recent times. Emirates has added Basra to its destinations, as have Etihad and Qatar Airways. Flydubai now travels to Gassim and Erbil, while Air Arabia has added Najaf. Gulf Air has also added Basra to its flight schedule, making four flights per week from Manama to Basra, its fourth Iraqi city.

Internationally there is also growth from carriers, including Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and other European airlines, while a number of carriers in the Middle East and North Africa are also adding Iraq destinations or increasing frequency of existing routes, including Nile Air, Turkish airlines and Iraqi Airlines.

On the hotel front, Rotana has led the way, opening the first international five-star property in Erbil, Iraq in December last year, with Rotana Baghdad opening in early 2012.

In addition, Range Hospitality has announced the 624-suite Al Rawdatain Gardens development at Karbala catering for religious tourists, but most international focus has been on Kurdistan where leisure tourism is already taking off.

Around 20 four- and five-star hotels are under construction in Erbil, with the Divan Erbil Park and Le Royal Erbil Park among those expected to open this year, while Millennium & Copthorne is already recruiting for its Millennium Erbil property and has announced plans for up to five hotels in Iraq.

More immediately, the Iraq government has announced a US$300 million budget to renovate six major Baghdad hotels prior to the postponed 2011 Arab Summit, which is now scheduled to take place in the Iraqi capital in May.

In addition IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced recently a landmark $400 million, seven-year debt facility for Zain Iraq, the country’s largest mobile phone operator.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and approaching its eighteenth year, Arabian Travel Market has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world. Last year 2,236 exhibitors covering over 20,000 square metres, attracted more than 22,000 attendees.

[ib6ub9]

imagine if all the tourists wanted to go to iraq...


mhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm

[baghdad_sara]

[sheytanElKebir]

Visitors: 79
A group of companies offer to contribute to the access to investment opportunities in Muthanna include the establishment of a tourist resort on the shores of Lake Sawa (30) kilometers west of the city of Samawah.

The General Director of the Investment Authority, Adel Al-Yasiri that the company Domani American contracting and construction company features the UAE to develop strategic, consulting and engineering firm spring breeze for General Trading and Contracting submitted a bid request to the governor of Muthanna Ibrahim Mayali for the purpose of investment in the province and the establishment of a tourist resort on the shores of Lake Sawa.

Sawa Lake is one of the strangest natural lakes in the world which gives them the importance of what could become a destination to attract thousands of tourists from different countries of the world

[elusive]

hey guys i have a small request...the travel website igougo needs more baghdad photos, reviews and tips (touristy related)...I've added some restaurant reviews and tourist sights plus 30 photos as the ones on there were very irrelevant, if you guys have the time please contribute to it.

http://www.igougo.com/travel_guide-l...d_tourism.html

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World Travel Market video: Iraq - future tourism hotspot

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph...ur3IgH1NY2Hx5i

[BigDreamer]

Originally Posted by elusive

hey guys i have a small request...the travel website igougo needs more baghdad photos, reviews and tips (touristy related)...I've added some restaurant reviews and tourist sights plus 30 photos as the ones on there were very irrelevant, if you guys have the time please contribute to it.

http://www.igougo.com/travel_guide-l...d_tourism.html

Sure, I'd like to contribute. What do I need to do exactly? I'm not familiar with this site

[elusive]

Originally Posted by BigDreamer

Sure, I'd like to contribute. What do I need to do exactly? I'm not familiar with this site

you need to make an account then you'll be able to post photos and write reviews

[kalboz]

Marriott International announces its first two hotels in Iraq

[Yousifovic]

thanks Kalboz

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The Rotana Erbil

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The Ishtar Sheraton after renovations:













before renovations:



image hosted on flickr

The Sheraton Ishtar Hotel by Al Jazeera English, on Flickr

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Baghdad's legendary Al-Rasheed hotel reopens

By Anwar Faruqi (AFP) – 22 hours ago


BAGHDAD — Baghdad's renowned Al-Rasheed hotel reopened on Friday, the only luxury commercial lodging inside the Iraqi capital's Green Zone and a centrepiece of the country's drive to attract foreign investors.

Guests entering the hotel once had to tread over a mosaic of former US president George Bush senior placed on the floor -- an insult reportedly ordered by dictator Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf War.

The Rasheed, and Baghdad's five other largest hotels, were closed last year to renovate them for an Arab summit last March, which was first postponed and then called off until next year.

That final postponement came after Baghdad's relations with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia chilled over the two Gulf countries sending troops to help put down a Shiite uprising in Bahrain, sparking criticism from Iraq's Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

But during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that the renovations were not only about the summit.

"The rebuilding of infrastructure, including palaces and airports, is evidence of the ability of Iraqis to achieve what they want -- not for the Arab summit, but to revive Baghdad again and to encourage foreign investment," he told reporters and dignitaries.

The Rasheed is the only luxury hotel inside the heavily protected Green Zone, which houses the US and British embassies, as well the Iraqi parliament and the prime minister's office.

Everything from the wallpaper to the glittering chandeliers and plush carpets were imported from Britain, said Mazin Wajih, managing director of Harlow International, the British firm contracted for the refurbishment.

"Everything has been brought in from the UK," he told AFP. "This has been under the scrutiny of the Kempinski Hotel group, which approved the majority of the designs," he added.

The renovation costs were between $60 million-$65 million (42.5-46 million euros), he said, adding that Swiss-based Kempinski would manage the property, under contract with his company.

"The hotel has 450 rooms and suites, and will be open to guests around August or September -- that's our best guess," said Wajih, who holds dual Iraqi and British nationality.

The total refurbishment cost of all six hotels was estimated at $450 million by the Iraqi government.

Also renovated or under renovation are the Mansour, the Palestine, the Ishtar -- formerly Sheraton -- the Baghdad and the Babil, all of which have been targeted by car bombs or other violence since the invasion in 2003.

One of the first things that US forces did only weeks after entering Baghdad was to tear up the world-famous mosaic of the first American president who ordered war against Iraq.

It was said that Saddam had personally chosen the location of the mosaic.

A visit to the hotel, a Baghdad landmark, was a must for all foreign dignitaries, including United Nations inspectors searching for Saddam's alleged weapons of mass destruction.

After the invasion the lobby of the hotel was ransacked by looters who stole furniture, television sets and computers.

In October 2003, then US assistant secretary of defence Paul Wolfowitz escaped a rocket attack which killed a US soldier and wounded 17 other people, including 14 foreigners.

In recent years, the hotel has been a regular target of rockets fired into the Green Zone, with a July 4 attack killing five people and wounding seven others.

In January 2010, the hotel's employees went on strike for the first time since its opening in 1983 to demand a risk premium in their salaries.

Iraq has not held a regular Arab summit since November 1978, although it did host an extraordinary session of the Arab League in Baghdad in May 1990.

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Marriott to open two new hotels in Iraq
15-07-2011

www.ttgmena.com

Marriott International announced that it has signed agreements with Empire Iraq to manage a 200-room upscale Marriott Hotels and Resorts-branded hotel and a 75-unit Marriott Executive Apartments property, both scheduled to open by 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.

The addition of these two Marriott hotels, their first in Iraq, thus extends the company’s hotel portfolio to 74 countries around the world.

The hotels are expected to be part of a large mixed-use project called ‘Empire World,’ now under construction that includes residential towers, private villas, office towers and retail and leisure space.

Located in Kurdistan in the northern part of Iraq, Erbil is served non-stop from Europe and the Middle East by a number of international air carriers including Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian and flydubai.

President and managing director, international lodging, Marriott International, Ed Fuller commented: “Erbil is an encouraging destination with a lot of economic and commercial opportunity. The city serves as a gateway to a region with vast deposits of oil and gas, fertile soil for agriculture and antiquities.

“We are pleased to be working with Empire Iraq on this prestigious project and look forward to doing what we can to help instil a sense of market confidence in terms of the area’s security. We are confident that this significant development will help the people of Erbil and Kurdistan achieve their positive visions of the future.”

Founder, Empire World, Peshraw Agha added: “We are very excited to welcome Marriott to Empire World. Marriott is the first truly global hotel brand to recognise the potential of Iraq and establish not one but two properties in Kurdistan.

“Empire World is an upscale, unique live, relax and work destination and we think that Erbil Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments Erbil are true jewels in the development. Erbil is the centre of growth in the area and Marriott’s commitment to these projects clearly indicates that Erbil has arrived as an international city befitting such prestigious and quality brands.”

Erbil Marriott is expected to provide a range of amenities, connectivity and services to help business travellers achieve their objectives. Moreover, recreational amenities are planned to include an extensive fitness facility, an on-site spa and an outdoor swimming pool.

Additionally, the hotel is designed to offer four restaurants and lounges, including an all-day dining experience and two specialty restaurants, one of which is expected to offer seasonal outdoor terrace seating.

Guests at Erbil Marriott can also expect an executive level, a business centre, a lobby gift shop, 24-hour room service, in-room mini-bar and safes, flat screen TV and Internet connectivity.

For social events and conferences, the hotel is designed to offer 11,400ft2 of meeting space comprised of an 8,000ft2 ballroom which is set to be divisible into three sections, three 800ft2 interconnecting meeting rooms and two 500ft2 board rooms.

Additionally, designed for extended stay travellers, the 75-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Erbil is designed to appeal as a five-star, full-service hotel.

Adjacent to Erbil Marriott, the property is expected to offer a mix of studios, and one- and two-bedroom units, each with a fully equipped kitchen, contemporary furnishings, state-of-the-art connectivity, flat screen TV, a washer-dryer, maid service, on-site storage and other services.

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Best Western to Open its First Hotel in Iraq

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/201...hotel-in-iraq/

Best Western International, a leading international hotel chain, has announced its plans to open its first hotel in Erbil.
A signing ceremony was held recently with Glenn de Souza, Best Western International’s vice president international operations for Asia & the Middle East, and Halgord Azzo, CEO of Golden Mountains Company, owner of Best Western Premier Erbil Hotel.
“There are many positive points which have triggered the interest of Best Western in Iraq for its next step of brand expansion. Compared to other countries in the region, Iraq holds good promise when considering the economy, the people, the salaries and financial resources,” said de Souza.
“It is a promising destination that holds vast potential as both a major business centre and a fascinating tourism spot. With Best Western Premier Erbil Hotel, the destination will benefit from the global sales and marketing reach, revenue generation and promotional power enjoyed by Best Western.”
Construction is due to start in September, and the hotel is expected to open in the second quarter of 2014. It will be built in a prime location close to the recently built international airport, a statement said.
The hotel will offer 160 rooms in standard, junior suite, deluxe suite and executive suite categories – all appointed with the likes of free satellite TV, direct dial telephone, wireless internet access, tea/coffee set and 24 hour room service.
The hotel’s facilities will include a restaurant, lobby lounge, spa, meeting and conference facilities and a casino.

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EXPERIENCE THE WONDER...

Religious tourism:
Iraq is known that there are many sites and shrines, the task of Abrahamic religions. Ur where Abraham was born, according to the Torah, and also the tombs of Daniel and Ezekiel and Jonah (Yunus) according to the beliefs of Jews, Christians and Muslims







Tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel






Tomb of the Prophet Jonah

There are in northern Iraq, many of the ancient monasteries and churches visited by thousands




image hosted on flickr



Mar Mattai Monastery or Church of Saint Matthew

As for the Muslims of many shrines visited by millions of
like:




The shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib in Najaf






Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala






His brother Imam Abbas shrine in Karbala

[IMG]image hosted on flickr
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque by BrendanChoi, on Flickr[/IMG]
Al-Khadimiya Mosque, Baghdad




The shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa in Baghdad


Mausoleum of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani in Baghdad

Historical tourism:
Iraq is the origin of the oldest human civilizations of the fourth millennium BC. Where there are still effects of the Sumerians, Akkadians spread in the southern provinces of it. It also contains the province of Babylon on with the rest of the effects and the walls of the historic city of Babylon. The Iraq Museum contains a wide range of effects of successive civilizations in Iraq






The city walls of Nineveh






Ziggurat of Ur in Sumer




Ishtar Gate, Babylon










National Iraq Museum, Baghdad


Inside Sennacherib's Palace, Kouyunjik






ancient city of Babylon


Imam al-Dor


Imam Yahya Abul Qasim in Mosul


the minaret at Anah


Qalat Lulu, Mosul





image hosted on flickr





Abassid Palace and Mustansiriya University, Baghdad






Malwiya, Samarra




Uruk

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Zaho Bridge


The ziggurrat of the god Ashur's temple at Ashur


The ziggurrat at Nippur












Ancient city of Hatra


Remains of the Southwest Palace, Nimrud


Qasr al-Ashiq, Samarra


the minaret of the Mosul Mosque








The ziggurrat at Dur-Kurigalzu




Shanasheel of Basra


The Caliphal Palace, Samarra: main entrance, Bab al-'Amma






The fourth-century arch at Ctesiphon.



image hosted on flickr

Khan Murjan, Baghdad








Ukhaidir






Citadel of Erbil

Eco-tourism:
Famous for Iraq environment tourist variety, where a eco-tourism a significant part of the general tourism in Iraq, Iraq is the focus of attention of tourists, environmentalists, who were coming from all over the world, especially the neighboring countries to practice their hobbies in bird hunting, especially hunting falcons this hobby Iraq, which began in the early twentieth century at the hands of Iraqi fishermen in central and southern regions of the country, and there are several lakes in Iraq is a tourist port of Lake Habbaniyah. It is also rich region in northern Iraq where the diverse nature will vary with its mountains and valleys and plains and waterfalls such as the waterfall entirely on Beck and others





























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Modern Iraq:

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Al-Shaheed Monument



Monument of the unknown soldier



Baghdad Tower

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Al-Rahman Mosque






Baghdad Island


Republican Palace, Baghdad

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City Center, Erbil by Steven Bartus, on Flickr

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Erbil night by Shivan Sito, on Flickr




Erbil City Centre

MALLS




















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HOTELS




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Erbil International Hotel






Rotana Hotel, Erbil




Ishtar Hotel, Baghdad

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Grand Millennium, Sulaimaniyah



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Al-Rasheed Hotel, Baghdad




Khanzad Hotel, Erbil




Nineveh International Hotel


Mosul Hotel

[IMG]Venezia Orientale Hotel[/IMG]
http://veneziaorientalehotel.com/images/hotel_img.jpg




Safir Hotel, Karbala






Basra International Hotel, Basra


Karbala Hotel, Karbala








Qasr Aldar Hotel, Najaf




Manawi Basha Hotel, Basra


Divan Hotel, Erbil