Iraq: Danger Zone or Ideal Spot for a “Seven and a Half Star” Tourist Hotel?

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  11.08.05 | 4:29 AM ET

Should Robert Young Pelton revise his list of no-go travel zones? Central Iraq, which he recently cited as the top spot on the planet to avoid visiting, has actually seen a rise in travelers, according to Kim Sengupta’s story in The Independent.

In fact, the Iraqi tourist board now has 2,400 staff and 14 offices, and a luxury hotel is being planned for Baghdad, albeit in the Green Zone.

Thair Feeley, of the Iraqi Commission for Investment, insists everything is in place. “It is not true that it will be a five-star hotel,” he says with a flourish, “but a seven and half stars one.”

The hotel is intended to have the usual accoutrements: plush suites, business centres, conference halls and a golf range. However, this is Iraq and Mr Feeley is not keen to make more details of the structure public for “security reasons.” Nor is he willing to reveal the name of the businessman, again for “security reasons.”

The building will have to be built to withstand mortar and rocket attack, just as the one major existing hotel in the Green Zone, Al Rashid, was built to do. Despite the carnage outside and its shabby appearance, the Rashid can still charge $150 (£86) a night.

Is it time to make reservations? Probably not. Here’s how Sengupta’s story ends:

Basra in the south has already officially declared itself open for tourism. But, says an official: “Tourists should dress like locals and maybe dye their hair. And they should have armed guards and they should be always vigilant.”

Tags: Adventure Travel, Hotels, Tres Loco, Middle East, Iraq, News and Briefs


2 Comments for Iraq: Danger Zone or Ideal Spot for a “Seven and a Half Star” Tourist Hotel?

RYP 11.08.05 | 6:12 PM ET

Obviously a slow day in the news room…never confuse Kurdistan (which has tourists and is safe) with Iraqistan which is a hard ugly place..It is an ideal place for civil war buffs to visit…like the US Marines..

Cheers

RYP

mike 11.09.05 | 11:37 AM ET

I’ll take Pelton’s side on this one. If even he won’t go to Central Iraq, it must be awful.

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