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Arbil, Iraq (TML) – Ever since Kurds established their own semi-autonomous region in Northern Iraq following the US-led invasion in 2003, the Kurdish leader has been promoting the region as a tourist hot spot, and according recent data it seems to be succeeding.

The main city in the region is Erbil. Due to its own local militias the city has maintained relative calm compared to the rest of the country after the war began seven years ago.

This has led to over 20 four and five star hotels currently being constructed in Erbil.

The main airport of the region is the new Erbil International Airport, which began receiving flights in March 24, 2010. The airport’s capacity is 3 million passengers each year.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Tourism reports that an estimated 39,000 Western visitors traveled to Northern Iraq in 2008 and in 2009 the number grew to 69,000. In addition to Westerners, some 48,000 Iranians have visited already this year.

Outside of Erbil a smaller international airport in Sulaimaniyah, close to the border with Iran, has been built, with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year.

One airline that has been operating flights to Erbil’s older airport for several years already is Austrian Airlines. Their spokesperson has only good things to say about the route.

“We are satisfied with the line. Booking is good and it’s a good market,” Pia Stradiot, spokesperson for Austrian Airlines, told The Media Line.

Austrian Airlines offers the route five times weekly and while the airline would not disclose the capacity of their flights, Stradiot said they were pleased with the numbers.

One person who can take credit for renewed travel interest in the Kurdistan region is Hagob Serob, director of public relations at the Department of Tourism for the Kurdistan Regional Government in Northern Iraq. Serob told The Media Line that promoting tourism is part of a long-term strategy for the government.

Iraqi Kurdistan is called “the other Iraq” because “people can enjoy security [here],” said Serob.

“I’m not going to exaggerate if I would say that as a foreigner you can move without any escort. This is something maybe you can’t see all over the world,” Serob told The Media Line.

“Here in Kurdistan we have many foreigners who are working as investors and for [international] companies,” he said. “The Kurdistan region is absolutely different from Baghdad, from Basra, from Najaf.”

One of the most important features for making all this possible is security, he explained.

“If you can just find security then you can do everything,” he said.

While most Westerners might not have seen northern Iraq as a vacation destination in the past, Serob says times are changing.

“During the last two years many foreigners have found this part of Iraq a good destination,” he said.

“It’s only a matter of time, maybe within the coming couple of years, maximum five to 10 years, this part of Iraq is going to be a very good destination for all foreigners,” Serob predicted.

“Each country, if it is to be considered a tourist country, there are some basics that need to be taken into consideration; for example, the Kurdistan region enjoys a very good nature, the mountains, the springs and the good weather,” he said.

As a tourist you don’t need to apply for a visa before arriving. You can just show up and get one at the international airport, Serob explained.

“Many airlines are now trying…to have flights to Erbil International Airport,” he said. “For example, recently we had flights from Qatar, as the Gulf people are really trying to do good investment here in the Kurdistan region.”

Geoff Hann, director for the UK-based Hinterland Travel, one of the few companies organizing trips to Iraq, told The Media Line that there is a lot of interest in traveling to Kurdistan and Iraq.

“We have ten people traveling to Kurdistan and then another twenty going to Baghdad and then traveling to meet up with the others,” Hann said about plans for an upcoming trip in September.

Hann, however, was not that impressed by government efforts in Iraqi Kurdistan.

“They are trying to push for Kurdistan, but it is just a small part of the country and people are interested in more,” said Hann.

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The small business grants for women that are available through the government and private foundation grants provide free money that doesn’t have to be paid back. Unlike loans that require a thorough application process, and often times some sort of collateral and co-signers, grant funding options are a much smoother process with virtually no terms.

While there are many variations of small business grants for women, most do not require any kind of credit check, down payment or income verification. They simply want to know your purpose for requesting the funding, how you plan to make money with your business, and how the money will help you succeed more or faster. If you can show that, you stand a great chance of receiving $50,000 or more in free grant money for your business.

There are many organizations in helping women and minorities succeed as working professionals and business owners, and your local government is certainly one of them. All it takes is an application and usually submitting a business plan that shows how you plan to succeed. As a result of your success from their investment in you, the community benefits from bringing in more tax dollars to the city and attracts perspective business owners.

The important part is that you receive the cash you need to pursue your dream and eliminate the financial risk of starting a business. With small business grants for women, even if your business fails, you generally don’t have to repay the money. That’s an offer you won’t find with any kind of bank loan.

Author: Melissa Sabella
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: US Dollar credit card

A Grant Is A Gift

In view of this background, small business grants are comparable to manna from Heaven. A grant is usually given by the Government through schemes which are meant to promote certain businesses, professions or industrialization (and development) of a region. Most people know about these grants but do not go for it because they are stopped by certain myths.

1. The eligibility criteria are too strict. The truth is that there are fixed eligibility criteria; also there are for scholarships, bank loans and mortgages, job vacancies and so on. Do you stop applying because they give you fixed criteria? On the contrary, you try very hard to establish a match between their requirements and your strengths so you would be chosen as the right candidate.

2. Too much paper work. The truth is that when you deal with the Government, everything has to be in black-and-white. Though it can be a little tedious, the effort is comparable to that of applying for entry into a leading college, or qualifying for a major scholarship. The competition is high, and the best is selected.

3. The follow up is not worth it. Of course, it is worth it. Whatever rate of interest you are offered you cannot match the fact that with a grant you do not need to return the money at all. The trouble you go through to get the grant is amply rewarded by the fact that you need not worry about repayment.

As you can see, small business grants are a boon for any budding entrepreneur. Go for it!

Author: Placida Acheru
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace

You’ve probably heard or seen the advertisements and websites that that claim that they can show you how to tap into hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to start or expand a business that the U.S. government “gives” away each year. Despite what these people would have you believe, the government isn’t just “giving away” money to small businesses. There are however, lots of opportunities for small businesses to connect with Federal dollars. First though, you need to understand a few things. Here are the facts about business grants: 

1. Nearly all federal grants–even stimulus grants–go to states, local government agencies, schools or universities and qualified nonprofit organizations. Most Federal grants given to businesses are for specific purposes relating to the development of advanced technologies and renewable energy development.

2. Every federal grant program is for a specific purpose, has required activities and requires that the recipient account for every dollar. If the specified activities aren’t carried out or the money isn’t accounted for properly, there are very serious consequences.

3. All of the “secret” information that people will try to sell you is available for free at your local library or on the Internet. 

What the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says:   

4. Don’t ever pay any money for a “free” government grant. It’s not free if you have to pay for it. Government agencies would never ask you to pay a processing fee for a grant that you have already been awarded – or to pay for a list of grant-making institutions. The names of agencies and foundations that award grants are available for free at any public library or on the Internet. The only official access point for all federal grant-making agencies is www.grants.gov

5. Never give your bank account information to someone you do not know. Scammers pressure people to divulge their bank account information so that they can steal the money in the account. Always keep your bank account information confidential. Don’t share it unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.

6. Look-alikes aren’t the real thing. Just because the caller says he’s from the “Federal Grants Administration” or something similar, it doesn’t mean that he is. There is no such government agency. Take a moment to check the blue pages in your telephone directory to bear out your hunch – or not. 

7. File a complaint with the FTC. If you think you may have been a victim of a government grant scam, file a complaint with the FTC online on their website (www.ftc.gov) or call 1-877-382-4357. 

If you are interested in learning about legitimate sources for business grant information, a good place to start is with your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office. The SBA does not offer business grants but they can help you connect with the proper resources for uncovering local, state and Federal business grant opportunities and they also may be able to guide you in the proper direction if you’re interested in pursuing cooperative agreements or contracting opportunities with the Federal government. 

Alternatively, you can also work with a professional business grants consultant. These are persons who are skilled in navigating the Federal maze and can help your business connect with local, state and Federal dollars. Before hiring a business grant writer, check them out and make sure you’re dealing with a professional who knows what he or she is doing and has a track record of success.

Author: R. Flavin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart cooker