Shafaq News
In a country still recovering from decades of war, religious
tourism has quietly grown into one of Iraq’s most consistent and resilient
economic sectors. Each year, millions of pilgrims travel across borders and
provinces to visit Iraq’s sacred sites, generating billions of dollars in
revenue, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and supporting a broad
ecosystem of small and large businesses.
This constant stream of religious visitors—particularly
during occasions such as Ashura and Arbaeen—has become a significant force
shaping the national economy.
Year-round flow
In 2024, an estimated 23 million people took part in Arbaeen
commemorations across Iraq, with more than 5.2 million arriving from abroad,
primarily from Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, India, and the Gulf. Ashura drew
roughly 5 to 6 million participants, largely concentrated in Karbala. These
peak events represent the most visible moments in a continuous flow of
religious travel throughout the year.
Millions also participate in other religious commemorations
such as Mid-Shaaban, Eid al-Ghadir, Eid al-Mubahala, and the birthdays or
martyrdom anniversaries of revered imams. For instance, the Mid-Shaaban
pilgrimage in 2023 attracted over four million visitors to Karbala.
Furthermore, thousands of diaspora pilgrims and theological
students visit cities like Najaf and Kufa, which serve as global centers of
Shia scholarship. Altogether, Iraq welcomed more than 30 million religious
visitors in 2024, including around 6 million from abroad.
A Boomtown Effect
Religious visitors are more than travelers; they play a
crucial economic role. According to estimates from Iraq’s Ministry of Planning
and Tourism, religious tourism generated over $9 billion in combined direct and
indirect revenues in 2023.
Foreign pilgrims tend to spend between $300 and $600 per
visit, depending on the duration and services, while domestic pilgrims spend an
average of $100 to $200.
In Karbala and Najaf, religious tourism accounts for more
than 60 percent of total local employment. Tens of thousands work in hotels,
restaurants, transport, retail, telecommunications, healthcare, and temporary
services.
In 2024 alone, over 18,000 new small and micro-enterprises
were registered in these cities, many tied directly to religious pilgrimages.
The sector also benefits related industries, including agriculture, textiles,
publishing, and waste management.
Saeb Abu Ghanim, head of the Tourist Hotels Association in
Najaf, explained to Shafaq News that although Najaf has around 250 hotels, with
240 fully operational after meeting safety requirements, these remain
insufficient for peak events.
He further noted that even a tenfold increase in hotels
would not meet demand, calling for tripling the current hotel capacity. Karbala
faces a similar situation, with only 450 hotels available compared to a needed
capacity exceeding 1,000.
Demand Outpaces Supply
Accommodation and transportation represent the largest
expenses for pilgrims. Karbala provides approximately 1,200 licensed hotels and
guesthouses, yet the city faces severe shortages during peak seasons.
Arbaeen alone generates more than 2.5 million bed nights, forcing
many pilgrims to rely on tents or volunteer shelters. Najaf experiences similar
capacity constraints.
Transportation logistics also intensify during pilgrimages.
In Arbaeen 2023, over 2.1 million pilgrims crossed into Iraq via the Zurbatiyah
border from Iran. Authorities responded by deploying more than 4,000 extra
buses and increasing flight capacity at Baghdad and Najaf airports by 40
percent.
Other crossings like Shalamcheh and Mehran also handled
hundreds of thousands of arrivals. These surges stress Iraq’s infrastructure
but simultaneously generate demand for food, fuel, communications, and local
guides, fueling seasonal economies across provinces.
The Iraqi government’s 2024 Tourism Investment Plan earmarks
nearly $620 million for infrastructure improvements in Karbala and Najaf,
including 38 new hotel licenses and upgrades to roads, water, and sanitation.
A Pillar of GDP
At the national level, religious tourism contributes an
estimated 3.3 percent to Iraq’s GDP, which stood at approximately $267 billion
in 2023, according to the World Bank. This share rivals traditional sectors
such as agriculture and construction.
Experts believe that with better planning and investment,
Iraq could potentially double this percentage by 2030 through improved visa
policies, infrastructure, and international promotion.
Mohammed Al-Rubaie, head of the Iraqi Tour Guides Syndicate,
told Shafaq News that religious tourism remains one of Iraq’s most direct
sources of income, stressing the need for standardized visa fees and modern
electronic systems to manage entry at all border points.
Emphasizing the expansion of religious tourism beyond
Karbala, Al-Rubaie urged for greater focus on Najaf, Samarra, and religious
shrines of other faiths to diversify and attract broader visitor segments. He
also highlighted the importance of professional management and enhanced
services to properly support the large visitor volumes, noting the critical
influx of foreign currency through pilgrims.
Geographically, more than 70 percent of religious tourism
revenue is generated in Karbala, Najaf, and Al-Kadhimiya. Other cities like
Baghdad, Samarra, and some provinces see modest activity, while Basra and
Al-Anbar remain largely outside this sector’s reach.
Untapped Potential
While Shia sites form the backbone of religious tourism,
Iraq is home to numerous significant landmarks for other faiths. Christian
sites like the Mar Mattai Monastery near Mosul, the Church of the Immaculate
Conception in Qaraqosh, and the Rabban Hormizd Monastery in Alqosh continue to
attract Iraqi Christians and diaspora pilgrims. Despite recent restoration
efforts, many of these sites suffer from underinvestment, poor infrastructure,
and weak security support.
Yazidi religious tourism centers on the Lalish Temple in
Duhok province, the holiest Yazidi site worldwide. Annual festivals attract
visitors from Iraq, Syria, and diaspora communities in Europe. However, the
surrounding infrastructure is minimal, and formal tourism services for Yazidi
pilgrims or foreign visitors remain scarce.
Sunni religious sites such as the Great Mosque of Al-Nuri in
Mosul and the Abu Hanifa al-Nu‘man Mosque in Baghdad receive year-round
visitors, particularly religious scholars and tourists from Jordan and Turkiye.
Still, these visits lack coordinated tourism efforts and generate limited
economic impact.
Economist Karim Al-Hilu told Shafaq News that despite Iraq’s
wealth of religious and historical sites spanning multiple faiths and
eras—including Abrahamic, Syriac, Akkadian, and Assyrian heritage—there has
been a failure to capitalize on this potential, citing insufficient
infrastructure, lack of green spaces, recreational facilities, and overly
complex visa procedures as key barriers.
Al-Hilu criticized the lengthy, security-heavy visa process
that deters many visitors, noting that most countries rely on flexible tourism
agencies to facilitate visas. He also pointed out the weakness of Iraqi tourism
companies abroad, which lack effective promotion and representation.
Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.
