Iraq launches 10-year tourism plan targeting 1 million visitors as marshes recover

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Tourism Authority has prepared a 10-year strategy to develop natural tourism sites including the deserts of Anbar and Najaf and the southern marshlands, aiming to attract more than 1 million tourists by 2035, excluding religious tourism.

Ali Yassin, director of public relations and media at the authority, told the Iraqi News Agency that the plan aims “to address challenges and turn them into development opportunities,” describing tourism as “an industry and a science, and a national project in which all ministries cooperate.” He said Iraq has participated in international exhibitions in London, Madrid and Dubai and distributed multilingual promotional materials to more than 80 diplomatic missions. A rehabilitation project for Al-Mutanabbi Street and Baghdad’s old city is also underway, being implemented according to heritage standards while introducing sustainability and technology without affecting the authenticity of the sites.

The marshlands, one of the plan’s key targets, have seen a significant recovery this year following increased water releases after years of drought. Saad Faleh, director of marshes and transboundary rivers in Maysan, said water has filled deep ponds including Al-Sawda, Umm al-Naaj, Al-Doub and Al-Azim, as well as the central marshes through main feeders. Residents said rising water levels “brought life back after difficult years,” with improvements boosting tourism and household income through river transport, marsh trips and the return of natural grasses for raising buffalo. “Good has returned after great suffering since 2021 and 2022,” resident Rasool Noor Ali said.

Ahead of the tourism season, environmental activist Ahmed Saleh Neama and five volunteers launched a campaign to clean waterways in the Maysan marshes by removing reeds and opening space for boat traffic. Neama told 964media the campaign, which began last month, has completed about 60% of the targeted area.