The Iraqi ministry of tourism and the Wasit province investment commission have announced plans to build a $1bn tourism development near the Wasit capital city of Al-Kut, Meed has reported. Overlooking the Tigris River, the 500,000 square-metre Wasit Tourist City will include hotels, apartment blocks, private chalets, swimming pools, an amphitheatre, public gathering space and an amusement park for 2,000 people. The provincial government is relying on public and private funding at home as well as foreign investment from private developers abroad to fund the project, the magazine reported.