ABSTRACT Iraq holds significant potential for tourism, thanks to its rich cultural heritage, religious landmarks, and archaeological sites. However, it faces persistent challenges in attracting international visitors, including security concerns, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient professional training. This study aims to assess the current state of tourism in Iraq and explore how the sector might be revitalized. The focus is on identifying major barriers and untapped opportunities. A preliminary investigation established a database of 270 hotels. Based on literature on tourism in postconflict regions, a 20‐indicator questionnaire was developed and pilot‐tested with five hotels. Following revisions to 12 indicators, the final questionnaire was distributed nationwide, resulting in 110 valid responses. The analysis revealed critical challenges. This study presents the first empirical analysis based on direct input from hotel managers throughout Iraq. The findings offer practical insights to guide planning and policy formulation aimed at fostering sustainable tourism and economic recovery in Iraq.
Al‐Jabieri et al. (Sun,) studied this question.