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.

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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

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