Shafaq News- Ilam/ Baghdad
Iraqi tourism to Iran’s Feyli Ilam provinceincreased by 75% over the past year, with around 8,000 Iraqi visitorsofficially registering stays at hotels and tourism facilities in the provinceso far, local tourism authorities said on Monday.
Farzad Sharifi, director general of Ilam’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, andHandicrafts Department, told Iran’s Mehr News Agency that Ilam is a leadingdestination for many Iraqi visitors due to the “deep social and historicalties” linking communities on both sides of the border. He added that the430-kilometer shared frontier and the Mehran border crossing facilitatecontinuous movement and communication, particularly between Mehran and Iraq’sWasit province.
Tourists are drawn to the province’s historical landmarks,natural environment, rural guesthouses offering traditional local experiences,and medical tourism supported by improving healthcare services.
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As part of efforts to expand tourism cooperation, theprovince also organized the “Across the Border” event aimed at introducingtourism operators from Wasit to Ilam’s tourism opportunities and investmentpotential, Sharifi noted.