Baghdad: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities announced a new approach focusing on “sustainability” for the rehabilitation of archaeological and heritage sites, as part of a time-bound plan leveraging modern technology and international standards.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the ministry has set ambitious goals to attract 10 million tourists in the coming period. This will be achieved through a series of collaborative projects with local governments. Ali Yassin, the spokesperson for the Tourism Board at the Ministry of Culture, stated that a detailed timetable has been established for the rehabilitation of sites such as the King Ghazi Palace and the ancient city of Nippur in Diwaniyah province, among others, incorporating sustainability principles.

Yassin explained that sustainability involves integrating modern development elements and advanced technology while maintaining the authenticity and historical integrity of archaeological sites. The rehabilitation and maintenance work at these sites is being conducted by joint committees that include relevant authorities and the local government in Diwaniyah, aligning with the country’s tourism development strategy through 2035.

He highlighted the ministry’s objective of attracting 10 million tourists to Iraq’s archaeological and tourist attractions. To accommodate such an influx, there will be a need for significant advancements in infrastructure, including increasing hotel room capacity, establishing resorts and bridges, enhancing telecommunications services, modernizing the banking system, and upgrading airports.

Yassin also mentioned Iraq’s membership in the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) since 1975, headquartered in Madrid. This membership is being utilized to rehabilitate archaeological and cultural sites, heritage houses, and religious tourism sites to meet the highest international quality standards.

He concluded by emphasizing that the primary aim of these efforts is to preserve Iraq’s civilizational heritage and invest in it through a sustainable tourism framework, thereby strengthening the country’s archaeological, heritage, cultural, and tourism identity on the global stage.