Spring Break in Iraq?

An exhibition organized this past week by the Iraq’s Tourism Ministry sought to lay the groundwork for one fine day in the future that some intrepid tourists might just consider going to Iraq for vacation.

At exhibition “Spring Fair” which held at a hotel within the concrete blast walls of Baghdad’s Green Zone, visitors were able to see displays of silk rugs, antique pistols, daggers decorated with gems, and some other locally made arts and crafts. And the hallways were lined with photos of Iraqi holy sites.

A tourism ministry spokesman, Abdul Zahra al-Talkami said “If you visit these places, you’ll feel how powerful and important they are. It’s spiritual, like visiting the Vatican” The western countries’ tourism fell to virtually zero after the U.S. invasion in 2003, al-Talkami said, Iraq still receives roughly 350,000 religious tourists and pilgrims a year who come to visits some Islam’s holiest sites, and they are not deterred by the prospect of car bombs and shootings. Maybe years after peace lands on Iraq for there will be spring breaks.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-03-29-spring-fair_N.htm