Travel And Tourism in Iraq
Euromonitor International's Travel And Tourism in Iraq report offers a comprehensive guide to the market at a national level. It looks at travel accommodation, transportation, car rental, tourist attractions and retail travel. It identifies the leading companies and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market, including background information on disposable income, annual leave and holiday taking habits.
Buy online to access strategic market analysis and an interactive statistical database of market size data for travel accommodation, transportation, car rental, travel retail, tourism attractions and health and wellness tourism, tourism inflows and outflows, tourism spending and company and brand shares.
Chapters: 8 | Tables: 47 | Publication date: Jan 2007
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Executive summary
Key Trends and Developments
The Iraqi government is not publicising tourism as yet, with the policy adopted towards tourism being geared towards preparation for potential growth in the sector in the future. As such, the government has resolved to start developing its human capacity in the sector, resuming flights with Europe, etc.
The country remains largely under the threat of escalating conflict, and the war seems unlikely to end any time soon. Nevertheless, religious tourism remains a strong potential source for tourism in Iraq, with increasing numbers of Shia Muslims in the region wanting to visit Iraq’s prominent holy shrines.
Regarding outbound travel, Iraqis are keen to escape from the country’s desperate situation to discover new horizons and cultures to which previously they had no access.
Travel Accommodation
Although hotel occupancy rates stood at an average of just 18% in 2005, some hotels around the cities of Najaf and Karbala saw occupancy rates of 70% during the hajj season.
The sector has been completely ravaged during the war, although developments are in the pipeline, including the “City of Beauty” and the Azmar mountain project, and another undisclosed project spearheaded by Kuwaiti investors.
Transportation
Iraq is linked by air through regular flights scheduled by Iraqi Airways and other international airlines. At least 20 passenger airlines have resumed flying to Iraq, with the airport operating on a 24-hour basis since 21 January 2006.
The General Railway Company in Iraq has announced its investment plan for the year 2006, which includes the implementations of numerous projects at a cost of US$5 billion. Among the projects is the establishment of a rail link between Baghdad and other provinces
Iraqi Airways, the country’s national carrier, is experiencing troubles following previous restrictions and conflicts with Iran and Kuwait. The airline is expected only to generate profits if traffic picks up significantly. In the mean time, lesser known low cost carriers have sprung up, such as Tigris Air, Jupiter, Orbit, Ishtar, Flying Carpet and Kurdistan Airways. These airlines cater to the needs of Iraqis who have restricted purchasing power but nevertheless wish to travel beyond Iraq’s borders, and likely to continue gaining in popularity.
Travel Retail
In Baghdad and in the northern cities of Arbil and Sulaimaniya, which have avoided most of the chaos affecting the rest of the country, travel agencies are starting to open their doors. Laru Travel Services leads, followed by Al Baghdadiya and Baban Tourism. Although the sector remains largely in the hands of corrupt factions, it does hold some potential considering the estimated four million Iraqi visitors to holy shrines each year, and the growing outbound market from Iraq to Iran, Syria and Jordan, as well as other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Kuwait.
Table of contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION
TRANSPORTATION
TRAVEL RETAIL
KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
GOVERNMENT TOURISM POLICY
Outlook
Impact
NEGATIVE GROWTH FACTORS
Outlook
Impact
RELIGIOUS TOURISM
Outlook
Impact
OUTBOUND TOURISM DESTINATIONS
Outlook
Impact
TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION
Occupancy rates, rooms and beds
Hotel development
TRANSPORTATION
Transport infrastructure
Iraqi Airways
Low cost carrier development
TRAVEL RETAIL
Travel retail infrastructure
Religious tourism
Ongoing corruption
Growth destinations
MARKET DATA
Table 1 Length of Trip: 2000-2005
Table 2 Arrivals by Country of Origin: 2000-2005
Table 3 Arrivals by Method of Transport: 2000-2005
Table 4 Arrivals by Purpose of Visit: 2000-2005
Table 5 Departures: 2000-2005
Table 6 Departures by Destination: 2000-2005
Table 7 Departures by Mode of Transport: 2000-2005
Table 8 Departures by Purpose of Visit: 2000-2005
Table 9 Domestic Trips by Mode of Transport: 2000-2005
Table 10 Incoming Tourist Receipts: 2000-2005
Table 11 Incoming Tourist Receipts % Growth: 2000-2005
Table 12 Outgoing Tourism Expenditure: 2000-2005
Table 13 Outgoing Tourism Expenditure % Growth: 2000-2005
Table 14 Domestic Tourist Expenditure: 2000-2005
Table 15 Forecast Arrivals by Country of Origin: 2005-2010
Table 16 Forecast Arrivals by Method of Transport: 2005-2010
Table 17 Forecast Departures: 2005-2010
Table 18 Forecast Departures by Destination: 2005-2010
Table 19 Forecast Departures by Mode of Transport: 2005-2010
Table 20 Forecast Incoming Tourist Receipts: 2005-2010
Table 21 Forecast Domestic Tourist Expenditure: 2005-2010
Table 22 Forecast Outgoing Tourism Expenditure: 2005-2010
SECTOR DATA
Table 23 Hotels: Units 2000-2005
Table 24 Regional Hotel Parameters 2005
Table 25 Travel Accommodation Sales by Sector: Value 2000-2005
Table 26 Hotel Company Rankings 2005
Table 27 Forecast Hotels: Units 2005-2010
Table 28 Forecast Travel Accommodation Sales by Sector: Value 2005-2010
Table 29 Forecast Travel Accommodation Internet Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2005-2010
Table 30 Forecast Hotel Internet Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2005-2010
Table 31 Transportation Sales by Sector: Value 2000-2005
Table 32 Airline Company Rankings 2005
Table 33 Forecast Transportation Sales by Sector: Value 2005-2010
Table 34 Forecast Transportation Internet Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2005-2010
Table 35 Forecast Air Travel Internet Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2000-2005
Table 36 Car Rental Sales: Value 2000-2005
Table 37 Car Rental Company Rankings 2005
Table 38 Forecast Car Rental Sales: Value 2005-2010
Table 39 Forecast Car Rental Internet Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2005-2010
Table 40 Travel Retail Outlets: Units 2000-2005
Table 41 Travel Retail Sales: 2000-2005
Table 42 Travel Retail Company Rankings 2005
Table 43 Forecast Travel Retail Outlets: Units 2005-2010
Table 44 Forecast Travel Retail Sales: 2005-2010
Table 45 Forecast Travel Retail Internet Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2005-2010
Table 46 Tourist Attractions: Value 2000-2005
Table 47 Forecast Tourist Attractions: Value 2005-2010
DEFINITIONS
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
DEMAND FACTORS
Length of Trip
TOURISM PARAMETERS
Arrivals
Departures
Outgoing tourism expenditure
Domestic tourists
Domestic trips
Domestic tourist expenditure
TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
Other travel accommodation
Number of bed nights
Occupancy rates
Number of rooms and beds
TRANSPORTATION
Air
Other transportation
CAR RENTAL
TRAVEL RETAIL
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
INTERNET SALES