Iraq Says 4.8 Million Visitors Recorded Since Start of Muharram Arbaeen Season

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Imam Hussein Arbaeen Pilgrimage Coordination Center, affiliated with the Iraqi Armed Forces Chief of Staff, said 4,887,660 visitors have entered the country since the start of Muharram. Iraq hosts millions of pilgrims each year, with shrines in Karbala, Najaf, Kadhmiyah and Samarra making it a major religious tourism hub. Karbala Hotel Union Deputy Chair Azhar al-Kilsheh said regional war conditions have negatively affected seasonal visits, with foreign pilgrim numbers declining due to visa delays and flight restrictions. Najaf Hotel Association head Saib Abu Ghanim said the local economy relies on Iranian visitors for 80% of its activity, but expected revenues have not materialized because of weak purchasing power and regional tensions. Economist Karim al-Halwi said billions of dinars in economic activity circulate during the 15-to-20-day pilgrimage period, but most services are provided free of charge by Husseini convoys, leaving no direct revenue for the state or private sector. The Iraqi Travel and Tourism Companies Association has called for the sector to be brought into the formal economy and criticized the issuance of free visas to 15,000 Afghan visitors through unofficial channels.