[[File:Gate of Babylon.jpg|thumb|Babylon was inscribed by [[UNESCO]] as a World Heritage site and receives thousands of visitors each year.]]
[[File:The road separating the ruins of Babylon The effects of the city of Babylon.jpg|thumb|[[Babylon]] was inscribed by [[UNESCO]] as a World Heritage site and receives thousands of visitors each year.]]
[[File:Hawler Castle.jpg|thumb|266x266px|Aerial view of [[Erbil Citadel]]|alt=]]
[[File:Hawler Castle.jpg|thumb|266x266px|Aerial view of [[Erbil Citadel]]|alt=]]
'''Tourism in Iraq''' refers to tourism in the [[Western Asia]]n country [[Iraq]]. Iraq was one of the main destinations for many years, however it changed dramatically due to conflicts. The tourism in Iraq has faced many challenges, however, in recent years there has been improvements. The capital city [[Baghdad]] is the second largest city in the [[Arab world]] and the 4th largest in the Middle East. Iraq has several World Heritage Sites, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, most notably [[Babylon]] Iraq. Iraq is considered to be a potential location for [[ecotourism]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10000817/Iraq-the-worlds-next-big-eco-tourism-destination.html |title=Iraq: the world's next big eco-tourism destination? |newspaper=Telegraph |access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> [[Erbil]] was chosen as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014 by the Arab Tourism Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euromonitor.com/travel-and-tourism-in-iraq/report |title=Travel and Tourism in Iraq |publisher=Euromonitor.com |access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref>
'''Tourism in Iraq''' refers to tourism in the [[Western Asia]]n country [[Iraq]]. Iraq was one of the main destinations for many years, however it changed dramatically due to conflicts. The tourism in Iraq has faced many challenges, however, in recent years there has been improvements. The capital city [[Baghdad]] is the second largest city in the [[Arab world]] and the 4th largest in the Middle East. Iraq has several World Heritage Sites, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, most notably [[Babylon]] Iraq. Iraq is considered to be a potential location for [[ecotourism]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10000817/Iraq-the-worlds-next-big-eco-tourism-destination.html |title=Iraq: the world's next big eco-tourism destination? |newspaper=Telegraph |access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> [[Erbil]] was chosen as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014 by the Arab Tourism Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euromonitor.com/travel-and-tourism-in-iraq/report |title=Travel and Tourism in Iraq |publisher=Euromonitor.com |access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref>
== World Heritage Sites ==
== World Heritage Sites ==
: '''Site'''; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation<ref name="list">{{cite web|title=World Heritage List|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|accessdate=28 May 2010}}</ref>
: '''Location'''; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
: '''Criteria'''; as defined by the World Heritage Committee<ref name="criteria">{{Cite web|title=The Criteria for Selection|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|accessdate=10 September 2011}}</ref>
: '''Area'''; in [[Hectare|hectares]] and [[Acre|acres]]. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
: '''Year'''; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
: '''Description'''; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable
|Located in southern Iraq, the site contains three cities of [[Sumer|Sumerian]] origin, namely [[Uruk]], [[Ur]] and [[Eridu]], in addition to four wetland areas in the [[Mesopotamian Marshes|Iraqi Marshlands]].<ref name="Ahwar">{{cite web|title=The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1481|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|accessdate=6 August 2016}}</ref>
|Located in southern Iraq, the site contains three cities of [[Sumer|Sumerian]] origin, namely [[Uruk]], [[Ur]] and [[Eridu]], in addition to four wetland areas in the [[Mesopotamian Marshes|Iraqi Marshlands]].<ref name="Ahwar2">{{cite web|title=The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1481|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|accessdate=6 August 2016}}</ref>
|A former capital of [[Hammurabi]], Babylon grew to become the largest settlement in ancient Mesopotamia during the reign of [[Nebuchadnezzar II]].<ref name="Babylon">{{cite web|title=Babylon|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/278|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|accessdate=5 July 2019}}</ref>
|A former capital of [[Hammurabi]], Babylon grew to become the largest settlement in ancient [[Mesopotamia]] during the reign of [[Nebuchadnezzar II]].<ref name="Babylon2">{{cite web|title=Babylon|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/278|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|accessdate=5 July 2019}}</ref>
|}
|}
Iraq has six [[World Heritage Site]]s recognised by the [[UNESCO]] as well as eleven additional sites on the tentative list of UNESCO. All of the World Heritage Sites are cultural, which include [[Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)]], [[Erbil Citadel]], [[Hatra]], and [[Samarra Archaeological City]]. The tentative list includes [[Ur]], [[Nimrud]], [[The Ancient City of Nineveh]], [[The Fortress of Al-Ukhaidar]], [[Wasit]], [[Babylon]], [[The Marshlands of Mesopotamia]], [[The Site of Thilkifl]], [[Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf]], [[Amedy city]], Historical Features of the [[Tigris River]] in [[Baghdad Rusafa]]. In addition to these sites, there are must-see places to visit in person in Iraq, like the Iraqi Plastic Society which houses numerous art work demonstrating traditional as well as innovative styles of design.<ref>{{cite web|author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|title=Iraq - UNESCO World Heritage Centre|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/iq|access-date=2015-11-18|publisher=Whc.unesco.org}}</ref>
Additionaly، Iraq has sites on the tentative list of UNESCO. The tentative list includes [[Ur]], [[Nimrud]], [[The Ancient City of Nineveh]], [[The Fortress of Al-Ukhaidar]], [[Wasit]], [[Babylon]], [[The Marshlands of Mesopotamia]], [[The Site of Thilkifl]], [[Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf]], [[Amedy city]], Historical Features of the [[Tigris River]] in [[Baghdad Rusafa]]. In addition to these sites, there are must-see places to visit in person in Iraq, like the Iraqi Plastic Society which houses numerous art work demonstrating traditional as well as innovative styles of design.<ref>{{cite web|author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|title=Iraq - UNESCO World Heritage Centre|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/iq|access-date=2015-11-18|publisher=Whc.unesco.org}}</ref>
== Baghdad ==
== Baghdad ==
[[File:صورة لمدينة بغداد.jpg|thumb|[[Baghdad]]]]
[[File:صورة لمدينة بغداد.jpg|thumb|[[Baghdad]]|270x270px]]
Baghdad is the capital of [[Iraq]] and the [[List of largest cities in the Arab world|second-largest city]] in the [[Arab world]]. It is located along the [[Tigris]] near the ruins of the ancient [[Akkadians|Akkadian]] city of [[Babylon]] and the [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid Persian]] capital of [[Ctesiphon]]. In the eighth century, Baghdad was chosen as the capital of the [[Abbasid Caliphate]], and became its most notable major development project
Baghdad is the capital of [[Iraq]] and the [[List of largest cities in the Arab world|second-largest city]] in the [[Arab world]]. It is located along the [[Tigris]] near the ruins of the ancient [[Akkadians|Akkadian]] city of [[Babylon]] and the [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid Persian]] capital of [[Ctesiphon]]. In the eighth century, Baghdad was chosen as the capital of the [[Abbasid Caliphate]], and became its most notable major development project
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*[[Maruf Karkhi]] Shrine in [[Baghdad]].
*[[Maruf Karkhi]] Shrine in [[Baghdad]].
*Shrine of [[Junayd of Baghdad|Junaid Baghdadi]] and [[Sirri Saqti]] in [[Baghdad]].
*Shrine of [[Junayd of Baghdad|Junaid Baghdadi]] and [[Sirri Saqti]] in [[Baghdad]].
*[[Salman Al-Farsi Mosque]] in [[Al-Mada'in]] near Baghdad, containing tombs of three [[Sahabah]] and a descendant of [[Muhammad]].
*[[File:Imam Husayn Shrine.jpg|thumb|[[Imam Husayn Shrine|Imam Hussein Shrine]], [[Karbala]]]][[Salman Al-Farsi Mosque]] in [[Al-Mada'in]] near Baghdad, containing tombs of three [[Sahabah]] and a descendant of [[Muhammad]].
*[[Kumayl ibn Ziyad]]'s Shrine between [[Najaf]] and [[Kufa]].
*[[Kumayl ibn Ziyad]]'s Shrine between [[Najaf]] and [[Kufa]].
* [[Hani ibn Urwa]], [[Muslim ibn Aqeel]] & [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]] Shrines in [[Great Mosque of Kufa]] in [[Kufa]].
* [[Hani ibn Urwa]], [[Muslim ibn Aqeel]] & [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]] Shrines in [[Great Mosque of Kufa]] in [[Kufa]].
Revision as of 06:58, 9 February 2022
Babylon was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and receives thousands of visitors each year.Aerial view of Erbil Citadel
Tourism in Iraq refers to tourism in the Western Asian country Iraq. Iraq was one of the main destinations for many years, however it changed dramatically due to conflicts. The tourism in Iraq has faced many challenges, however, in recent years there has been improvements. The capital city Baghdad is the second largest city in the Arab world and the 4th largest in the Middle East. Iraq has several World Heritage Sites, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, most notably Babylon Iraq. Iraq is considered to be a potential location for ecotourism.[1]Erbil was chosen as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014 by the Arab Tourism Committee.[2]
World Heritage Sites
Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation[3]
Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee[4]
Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable
Located on the Tigris and dating from the 3rd millennium BCE, Ashur was the first capital of the Assyrian Empire and the religious centre of the Assyrians. Following its destruction by the Babylonians, the city was briefly revived during the Parthian period.[5]
Situated on the top of a tell in Iraqi Kurdistan and overlooking the city of Erbil, the Erbil Citadel constitutes a typical example of Ottoman-era urban-planning. In addition to its 19th century fortifications, the site also contains remains dating back to the Assyrian period.[6]
The fortified Parthian city of Hatra withstood repeated attacks by the Roman Empire in the 2nd century. Its architecture reflects both Hellenistic and Roman influences.[7]
Located on the Tigris, the Islamic city of Samarra was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. It contains two of the largest mosques and several of the largest palaces in the Islamic world, in addition to being among the finest example of Abbasid-era town-planning.[8]
Located in southern Iraq, the site contains three cities of Sumerian origin, namely Uruk, Ur and Eridu, in addition to four wetland areas in the Iraqi Marshlands.[9]
Religious tourism is the most popular type of tourism in Iraq, with tens of millions of tourists from several countries visiting Holy cities and places in Iraq every year. These include:
The number of tourist arrivals in Iraq in 2013 was 892,000. In the last two decades the highest number of tourists came in 2010 with 1,518,000 tourists. In 2012, the value of international tourism receipt was $1.64 billion.[12]Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region of Iraq, was a hotspot for tourism. It was considered to be a safe and stable region and least affected by terrorism. In 2012, Kurdistan recorded a 70% rise in tourist arrivals. In 2007 Kurdistan had 106 hotels which increased to 405 in 2012 in addition to 214 motels and 50 tourist villages.[13][14]Erbil city in Kurdistan which was declared as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014. However, as of 2015, activities of the militant group ISIS have affected tourism in Kurdistan. According to the association of hotels, tourism in Kurdistan is going through a crisis. The Governor of Erbil said that the financial crisis of Iraq and the war against ISIS have affected all sectors of the economy including tourism.[15][16]
Najaf and Karbala are considered a thriving tourist destination for Shia Muslims and the tourism industry in the city boomed after the end of Saddam Hussein's rule.[17] However, due to the US sanctions on Iran, the number of Iranian tourists dropped significantly.[18]
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