Iraq’s tourism industry suffers amid war on Iran

Iraq’s economy is being hit hard by the war on neighboring Iran and restriction on oil exports in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tourism was starting to emerge as one of Iraq’s few economic bright spots. But despite the government’s efforts, diminished tourist numbers are likely to once again cost it hundreds of millions in lost revenue.

Ben Thornton, an Australian who defied his government’s travel ban to visit, tells Al Jazeera that Baghdad is “as safe as anywhere else” he has been.

“I haven’t felt… in any kind of danger or any kind of anxiety about being in trouble or anything like that,” he added, stressing that he was “treated like an honoured guest” in Iraq.