Romantic getaway in Baghdad? 'No thanks' say investors

Iraq's idea of transforming a river island in the heart of Baghdad into a romantic getaway for newlyweds received a cool reception from investors yesterday. Iraq's tourism board is looking for a developer to revive Jazirat Al A'ras, an island on the Tigris River that was once known as "a romantic getaway for newlywed couples to honeymoon and relax", according to a statement from the board.
Yet finding an interested developer is no easy task. Al-Aqeelah, an investment company based in Kuwait, is investing millions of dollars in revamping the airport at Iraq's holy city of Najaf, but said it did not see a business case for leisure tourism in Iraq. "Iraq is not exactly the place you want to spend a romantic time with your newlywed, if you know what I mean," said Nazeh Khajah, the head of marketing and public relations at Al-Aqeelah. "So I don't think we'll be ready to jump into such a project."
Magdy Youssef, the urban planning manager at Qatari Diar, a property investment firm, said the company would be extra cautious if it were to consider such a project. "Given the situation in Iraq right now, we would really wait and see a detailed proposal of this project so we could see what kind of risks are involved," Mr Youssef said. The island, which is wholly owned by the board, will be leased to an interested developer to be transformed into a resort and recreational tourist attraction.
The project has an estimated cost of between US$2.5 billion (Dh9.2bn) and $4.5bn and is expected to take four to six years to build. "Baghdad's hospitality industry lacks world-class, five- and six-star resorts and does not capitalise on Baghdad's legacy as the 'cradle of civilisation'," a spokesman for the Iraqi Tourism Board said. The island is about 2,000 metres long and 1,100m wide. It is connected to the Green Zone by a causeway and is across the river from Baghdad University.
Developers must submit drawings with their proposals that include a six-star hotel, five-star spa, four-star resort and conference centre, 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, and a helicopter landing zone. "When developed, several of the proposed resorts will become an attractive retreat to the more than seven million residents of Baghdad and a drawing card for the other 21 million residents of Iraq, as well as a focal point for international visitors, whether in Baghdad on business or for pleasure," the tourism board spokesman said.
However, Mr Khajah said that tapping into the religious tourism sector in Iraq, which attracts millions of visitors every year despite the violence and lack of facilities, would be much more profitable than leisure.
abakr@thenational.ae