Destiantion Iraq

by Matthew Caston
July 22, 2008
We all want to get away at times.  Whether if it’s to escape the fast pace of the city or to escape the monotony of work, a vacation does the trick.  If youre big on vacations and tourists spots, a new one has just been made available.  Pack your bags because you’re going to Iraq!

This is no joke.  Iraq has been a civilian’s nightmare for the past 20 years, but now the country is looking for tourist to help with its economy.  Iraqi officials are intent on attracting tourist to the many archaeological and historic sites around the country.  Many of these sites, like the famous Hanging Gardens in Babylon, have been badly damaged and the National Museum remains closed to the public.
According to the online version of Lonely Planet, a travel guide agency, Iraq, with its “widespread violence and kidnappings” and high threat to foreigners, is in a peculiar position for tourism.  Although the website points out that the Kurdish region in northern Iraq is safer than others, Lonely Planet still gives Iraq an “extreme danger” severity warning.
Apparently words like “extreme danger” and “widespread violence” don’t mean too much to American business man Robert Kelley.  Kelley has a vision of a $100 million luxury hotel in one of Baghdad’s green zones.  He is confident that construction could begin as soon as city officials conduct a survey in 30 to 45 days.
With headlines at cnn.com like “Baghdad hit by deadly car bomb,” which took place a day ago, tourists may not be jumping at the chance to visit Iraq this year, or the next.  Despite the non-friendly state of Iraq, Kelley and officials from Iraqs National Investment Commission have already held a cornerstone laying ceremony for the luxury hotel.  Maybe revitalizing Iraq’s tourist industry is Americas way of stabilizing the economy, or maybe its capitalism at its best.