Iraq's appeal 'still strong' for travellers

The architectural sites of Iraq are legendary

By Christine McCarthy BBC News Online

Despite the threat of war in Iraq, interest in the country as a tourist destination is increasing. BBC News Online speaks to travel companies who are meeting the demand.

A guide to Iraq, issued by a publishers in the UK, is proving to be an instant best-seller across the Atlantic.

Sales of the travel guide have rocketed with even an official from the US State Department calling the Buckinghamshire company to request a copy.

And it is not only the book which is proving popular - tourists keen to visit the ancient treasures of Iraq are apparently queuing up to go to the country.

They (US State Dept) must have looked it up on the internet and rang to request an advance copy

Hilary Bradt
Bradt Travel Guides

All this despite the threat of war and government advice against British people travelling to Iraq.

Staff at Bradt Travel Guides in the village of Chalfont St Peter have been surprised at the interest in the Iraq book.

They are now urgently reprinting to satisfy demand.

The Iraq tour book - which contains computer-drawn maps and town plans - has sold its entire 4,000 print run, with 1,600 sold in the US alone in just six months.

Publisher Hilary Bradt said the book had still to reach US bookshelves when they were contacted by a Washington official.

Worldwide interest

"It was certainly a surprise. They must have looked it up on the internet and they rang to request an advance copy," she said.

"The gentleman had a long conversation with one of my staff, he was a very warm and chatty American."

Would-be tourists are ignoring government advice

Sales have now overtaken Bradt's previous bestsellers on Ghana and interest in the book has gone worldwide with copies sold in Japan and Australia as well as throughout Europe.

It is not the first time Bradt's book have drawn such interest, with a guide to the Afghan city of Kabul being another best-seller.

The company also publishes a detailed guide to Iran and a North Korea guide is planned for release in the autumn.

The lure of Iraq is noticeably growing, says tour operator Geoff Hann, who last year took out five groups to the Gulf state with his firm Hinterland Tours.

'Chattering classes'

The company has seven tours planned for this year, with its next due out on 16 March - but only if war is avoided.

Mr Hann said his clients are mainly the "chattering classes" in the 40-70 age group, many of whom are keen to recall the history they learned in their schooldays.

I think one way or another Iraq is destined to become a top tourist destination, the floodgates will open

Geoff Hann
Hinterland Tours

"Iraq is part of the heritage of what they learned in the bible and about Sumaria and the ancient city of Ur. The country has tremendous appeal as a destination," he said.

"These people are the sort who know why they want to go to Iraq and they are resistant to being told what to do by a government.

"Of course there is a worry about going to Iraq at this time, but our tourists are more interested in empathy with the people there."

His company ran tours to Iraq in the early 1970s and 1980s, but called a halt at the outbreak of the Gulf War in the early 1990s. Tours were restarted in 1999.

He said the places of interest in Iraq represent some of the finest architectural and historical sites in the world.

No insurance

A recent travel show in London drew massive interest from would-be travellers for 2004 visits.

"I think one way or another Iraq is destined to become a top tourist destination, the floodgates will open," he said.

But in the current climate, the company has to warn its travellers they are entering Iraq against government advice and no insurance can be offered.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is still advising against travel to Iraq by British nationals.