‘No Pilgrims’: Regional War Hushes Iraq’s Holy Cities
Hotel closures and layoffs spread as pilgrim traffic falls about 95 percent, local officials say, after war and ceasefire disruptions cut religious tourism.
- Regional conflict ignited by US-Israeli strikes on Iran has halted the influx of pilgrims to Najaf and Karbala, devastating Iraq's non-oil economy as religious tourism collapses.
- Despite a fragile ceasefire taking effect on April 8 and Iraq's airspace reopening, little has changed for local businesses, with the area remaining quiet as foreign travel remains trapped.
- Saeb Abu Ghneim, head of the hotel association in Najaf, reported 80 percent of the city's 250 hotels have closed, with more than 2,000 employees laid off or on unpaid leave.
- Tourist numbers in Karbala have plummeted by around 95 percent, Israa al-Nasrawi, head of the city's tourism committee, warned, as the war devastates the local economy and forces hundreds of hotels to close.
- Labourers and merchants struggle to pay rent and taxes, shopkeepers like 71-year-old Abdel Rahim Harmoush report, warning of economic ruin as their businesses remain empty without foreign visitors.
32 Articles
32 Articles
War empties Iraq’s holy cities as pilgrim numbers collapse, businesses struggle to survive
NAJAF (Iraq), May 6 — In Iraq’s holy city of Najaf, the majestic shrine of Imam Ali stands quiet, its vast courtyards no longer echoing with the multilingual whispers of pilgrims from before the Middle East war.The absence of tourists leaves nearby shopkeepers and hotel owners with little to do, their days dragging on as they hope for the crowds to return and revive their businesses.“Iranians used to keep us busy, whether the jeweller, the fabri…
Najaf and Karbala fall silent as war keeps visitors away
Najaf – In Iraq’s holy city of Najaf, the majestic shrine of Imam Ali stands quiet, its vast courtyards no longer echoing with the multilingual whispers of pilgrims from before the Middle East war. The absence of tourists leaves nearby shopkeepers and hotel owners with little to do, their days dragging on as they hope for the crowds to return and revive their businesses. “Iranians used to keep us busy, whether the jeweller, the fabric merchant …
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