Iraqi authorities have reported an enormous improve in overseas guests.
Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority stated in an announcement Feb. 10 that 4,908,797 foreigners visited Iraq in 2021. This constituted a 145% improve in guests from 2020, in keeping with the assertion. This implies round 2 million foreigners got here to Iraq in 2020.
Baghdad Worldwide Airport obtained the best variety of guests with 2,069,723, whereas Erbil Worldwide Airport obtained 1,324,754 guests. Smaller numbers of individuals entered the nation through the airports in Sulaimaniyah, Najaf and Basra, in keeping with the assertion.
Why it issues: Iraq requires residents of most international locations to acquire a visa earlier than touring to the nation. Nevertheless, in March 2021, the Iraqi authorities determined to grant visas on arrival to residents of dozens of nations. This included everlasting member states of the United Nations Safety Council and European Union international locations, in addition to Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. All these international locations have superior economies.
In September, Iraq and Iran additionally reached an agreement to take away the visa requirement for journey between the 2 international locations. Non secular tourism between the 2 international locations is especially necessary, as Iranian pilgrims frequently go to Shiite Muslim holy cities in Iraq.
What’s subsequent: The Iraqi authorities is at present engaged on establishing a path to Saudi Arabia for Iraqi pilgrims to take to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi issued instructions in January for the undertaking to be accomplished. The pilgrim route was first deliberate again in 2013, however was placed on maintain amid Iraq’s monetary disaster in 2014 and the coronavirus pandemic, Adnan Abu Zeed reported for Al-Monitor final month.
