Iraq says tourist arrivals have surpassed 2 million

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities said on Wednesday that the number of tourists entering the country has exceeded 2 million, citing figures shared by the ministry. Deputy Minister Fadel al-Badrani attributed the rise in part to improved security stability in Baghdad and other cities, saying it has had a positive impact across all sectors, including tourism and antiquities. Al-Badrani said Iraq possesses a rich cultural and intellectual heritage and that the cultural sector is in a better condition than in previous years. He added that the ministry is working toward having tourism revenues contribute 30 percent to the national budget, framing the sector as an area that requires further strengthening for economic diversification. The ministry said it aims for continued growth in visitor numbers, though it did not provide a breakdown of arrivals by country or a comparison with prior years. No further details on the ministry's tourism targets were immediately available.