Iraq Targets 10 Million Tourists and 1.5 Million Jobs by 2035 to Cut Oil Dependence
Updated
Updated · Shafaq News · Aug 15
Iraq Targets 10 Million Tourists and 1.5 Million Jobs by 2035 to Cut Oil Dependence
3 articles · Updated · Shafaq News · Aug 15
Summary
Baghdad officials launched the first of five workshops to draft a national tourism strategy aimed at bringing 10 million visitors and creating 1.5 million tourism-related jobs by 2035.
GIZ, which is helping shape the plan, said hitting those goals will require a single government-private sector strategy rather than fragmented efforts.
About 90% of Iraq's revenue still comes from oil, Deputy Culture Minister Qasim Mohsen said, underscoring why Baghdad wants tourism to become a larger source of income.
Iraqi advisers and academics said the sector remains underdeveloped despite World Heritage sites, the Tigris and Euphrates, and varied landscapes, with arts tourism such as cinema and theater also lagging.
The strategy will be refined through workshops in Baghdad, Erbil, Karbala, Mosul and Basra as Iraq tries to turn heritage, religious and natural assets into a broader industry.