Restaurants, hotels see surge with influx of soccer fans, association reports

BASRA – The Restaurants and Hotels Association in Basra has reported a surge in activity across the hospitality sector, largely driven by the sporting events being hosted in the city. The association, which oversees 110 registered tourist restaurants, noted that these establishments are packed with sports fans.

“The registered restaurants are classified from excellent to fourth class, and we also have a significant number of unregistered popular restaurants that have not yet obtained a tourist license,” Muzaffar Mohammed, head of the association, told 964media.

“Iraqi citizens are known for their purchasing power and tend to prefer upscale dining experiences. Most first-class restaurants are filled with customers. Many of the modern hotels also have excellent in-house restaurants, which attract visitors as well,” he added.

Iraq’s national football team was unable to play home matches for decades due to security concerns after the Gulf War in the 1990s and the 2003 invasion. FIFA repeatedly banned international matches in Iraq because of safety issues. In 2018, the ban was partially lifted, allowing Iraq to host friendlies and some competitive games in cities like Basra, Erbil, and Karbala.

Ahmed Al-Aidani, manager of Georgina Restaurant and Cafe, highlighted the impact of Basra’s sporting events, saying, “With the expansion of sports events and matches in Basra, we’ve seen the opening of many new restaurants and cafes. It’s encouraging to see young people gathering in restaurants to watch the games rather than engaging in potentially harmful activities.”

Al-Aidani also noted the influx of fans from other provinces: “We’ve observed many supporters from across Iraq spending time in Basra before heading to the matches.”

Ali Mohammed, a fan from Diwaniya, shared his experience: “I came from Diwaniya, and the atmosphere in Basra is wonderful. The restaurant and hotel scenes are thriving, and the prices are reasonable. You can stay at hotels for as low as 25,000 dinars (approximately $16 USD) per night, and meal prices are also very affordable with plenty of options.”