- News>
- Travel
Plans to revive religious tourism industry in Iraq
Baghdad, Nov 30: Plans are underway in Iraq to revive the religious tourism industry with the aim of attracting tens of millions of pilgrims of all faiths to holy sites.
Baghdad, Nov 30: Plans are underway in Iraq to revive the religious tourism industry with the aim of attracting tens of millions of pilgrims of all faiths to holy sites.
But a meeting here yesterday between officials of the foreign and culture ministries, tour operators and religious representatives saw a spat between Shiites and Sunnis over the value of their monuments.
"We have 45 tombs of imams," Hussein al-Shemi, director of Shiite religious affairs, said. "These are not just stones, but also a source of knowledge and inspiration."
The statement prompted a walkout by Shemi's Sunni counterpart from the meeting, which ended with an agreement to form a committee to supervise religious tourism.
Under Saddam Hussein, the industry was under the guidance of his son Udai, and was restricted since the Sunni-based regime was suspicious of the majority Shiites.
"We must lift the restrictions, while better organising the tourism, so freedom does not turn into chaos," Shemi said.
"Two thousand Iranian pilgrims cross the border every day," Abu Majid, manager of the al-Zulfikar Hotel in najaf, said.
Said Ismael, another religious official, estimated that the industry could generate two billion dollars a year, twice what it yielded -- and was embezzled -- under Saddam's regime. Bureau Report
"We have 45 tombs of imams," Hussein al-Shemi, director of Shiite religious affairs, said. "These are not just stones, but also a source of knowledge and inspiration."
The statement prompted a walkout by Shemi's Sunni counterpart from the meeting, which ended with an agreement to form a committee to supervise religious tourism.
Under Saddam Hussein, the industry was under the guidance of his son Udai, and was restricted since the Sunni-based regime was suspicious of the majority Shiites.
"We must lift the restrictions, while better organising the tourism, so freedom does not turn into chaos," Shemi said.
"Two thousand Iranian pilgrims cross the border every day," Abu Majid, manager of the al-Zulfikar Hotel in najaf, said.
Said Ismael, another religious official, estimated that the industry could generate two billion dollars a year, twice what it yielded -- and was embezzled -- under Saddam's regime. Bureau Report