October 20, 2006

BERMUDA DIDN'T NEED OIL:

Iraq Kurdistan launches tourism campaign (Alicia A. Caldwell, 10/20/06, Associated Press)

It's not for the casual traveler. But if you are up for an adventure in a place that boasts peace, democracy and an experienced security force, a California marketing firm has a suggestion: Kurdistan.

"It has always been a tourist destination for Iraq and other parts of the Middle East," said Sal Russo, whose Sacramento, firm helped the Kurdistan Development Corp. create a new television ad campaign for the three-province region in Northern Iraq. "Westerners walk around freely and there is an active nightlife."

Russo, whose firm handles largely Republican campaign clients, acknowledges that it "might be close by in miles" to the Iraq war, "it's a lot further from that in reality."


In the long term, you'd think tourism and banking would be more valuable, and certainly healthier economically, to Baghdadistan than the oil of Kurdistan and Shiastan.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 20, 2006 9:55 AM
Comments

For a long time we've been waiting for the Middle East to become politically stabilized enough for a visit. Time's a wasting and maybe it's Kurdistan that will become the destination of choice.

Posted by: erp at October 20, 2006 5:56 PM

Not interested in Middle East tourism, but isn't Dubai fairly popular right now?

Posted by: jdkelly at October 20, 2006 6:48 PM

JDK, Dubai is fairly popular, yes. So is Abu Dhabi. If you're interested in buying gold Dubai is the place.

The only night life experiences I've had in the Stans required two armed excorts. Maybe it's getting better these days.

Posted by: Tom Wall at October 20, 2006 8:04 PM

I was thinking of a more traditional experience in historic terms, but I'd love a quick tour of Dubai. Thanks for the flattery, but night life isn't a high priority, so we can dispense with the armed guards.

Posted by: erp at October 20, 2006 8:26 PM

From what I hear, you might need the armed guards in Florida.

Posted by: jdkelly at October 20, 2006 8:30 PM

jd, wha????

Posted by: erp at October 21, 2006 10:07 AM
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