Abstract Iraq is called the ‘Biblical Fertile Crescent’ and the recent unfortunate incidents should not instigate the global community to rule out the country. Iraq has some significant sites of historical importance and as such, the country has great potentials to become a preferred global tourism destination. The two rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, and the varied topography of the country (with desert and snow peaked mountains) give the country a beautiful scenic look. Unlike the remaining parts of Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan is emerging as a favorite tourist destination; Kurdistan is comparatively safe and secure. The country can be at the receiving end of benefits if it seriously thinks about starting all-inclusive tourism packages. This paper seeks to evaluate a tourism destination in the MENA area. MENA stands for Middle East and North Africa that includes, “Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank & Gaza, and Yemen” (World Bank, 2013). Among these nations, Iraq has been chosen as the tourism destination to evaluate. “It is impossible to ignore tourism” (Sharpley, 1999). Tourism has emerged as a premier global business during the past couple of decades. The amount of tourists increased manifold since 1950 and as estimates predict, it might extend to even greater heights by the year 2020 (UNWTO 2011). Introduction It is true that during the past couple of years, Iraq has had a negative reputation due to the unfortunate incidents that shook the country. People might consider Iraq as a war-torn country that still might be under the spell. In spite of all such speculations, Kurdistan proves to be a haven for tourists. Owing to the sincere efforts of the Kurdistan Investment Authority, several investors have initiated to invest in sectors such as tourism and real estate. Such efforts have been instrumental in boosting the tourism industry in the region. Religious tourism is the torch bearer of the tourism industry in Iraq. Karbala is considered to be a holy place for Muslims all over the world. This particular destination did not lose importance in spite of the long wars that the country has witnessed. Numerous hotels in the vicinity of Karbala are reaping profits as a result of the swarming tourists. Global hotel chains such as Hilton and Marriott have invested in Karbala due to the lucrative business opportunity. As the Iraq war started, the performance of the country’s airline industry experienced a total blockade. There was no passenger traffic to and from the country. Fortunately, recent reports suggest that air travel has been restored in the country. This will further be positivity for the tourism industry in Iraq. Airports are also being renovated for better service and more space. But despite all such efforts and encouraging signs, there is still a feeling of uncertainty (pertaining to the country) among the global community. Impacts of tourism in Iraq Among the consequences of the war, the worst effect that the country has experienced is chocked relations with neighboring countries and other parts of the world. Other effects such as severe security problems and damaged infrastructure also pose a grave situa