Iraq plans to expand tourism’s contribution to 10% of GDP

The Iraqi national museum. Photo: AP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq has announced a strategic plan to increase tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP to 10 percent by 2035. Developed with foreign partners including the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the program seeks to attract 10 million tourists each year, generate 1.5 million new jobs, and diversify the economy, which relies heavily on oil income. The strategy intends to attract 10 million total tourists per year by 2035, shifting from the existing emphasis on religious pilgrimage to archaeological, cultural, and ecotourism. The plan is estimated to create 1.5 million job opportunities in the tourist and service sectors. It will also increase tourism’s contribution to the GDP to 10 percent, helping lessen the country’s absolute dependency on oil earnings. The strategy covers the rehabilitation and long-term repair of historical sites. It includes renovating and reopening significant cultural sites, such as the national museum in Baghdad. The effort would involve educating hospitality workers, integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and recreating large-scale cultural events such as the Babylon International Festival.