Heritage and Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in Iraqi Kurdistan
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Archaeology
Abstract
Heritage and Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in Iraqi Kurdistan
The Kurdistan region of Iraq is especially rich in archaeological, historical and ecological sites that have enormous potential for heritage tourism and ecotourism. As yet, this potential has been significantly underdeveloped. While tourists from within Kurdistan and Iraq more widely frequently visit such natural sites as lakes, waterfalls, mountains and forests, there is much less tourist attention on the heritage sites of the region. These sites comprise caves, rock shelters, rock-cut tombs, archaeological mounds and settlements, as well as heritage buildings in cities such as Sulaimaniyah, the cultural capital of Kurdistan, where this project will be focused.
Furthermore, both ecological and heritage sites in Iraqi Kurdistan suffer from a lack of information for those who do visit these important places. Most heritage sites in the region have no on-site information at all, and it is therefore not surprising that very few people make the effort to visit them. There are also problems with access to some of the key sites, which lack suitable roads, visitor pathways, and any form of signage.
In this project, we propose to start the process of developing the cultural and natural assets of Sulaimaniyah province within the context of the UN International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. Through collaboration between the University of Reading Department of Archaeology and the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, Sulaimaniyah, including the Slemani Museum, we will draw on UK and Iraqi expertise across the heritage, creative, tourism and social enterprise sectors to develop economic opportunities for local stakeholders. Working together, we will co-develop and establish:
1. A toolkit for heritage and ecotourism in the region
2. Accessible digital resources for the heritage and ecotourism sector
3. Networks of stakeholders centred on local communities who will take ownership of the project's outcomes for future sustainability.
Through in-depth engagement with local communities in Sulaimaniyah province, this project will establish a framework for the ongoing development of heritage and ecotourism in the region. On this basis, we aim significantly to enhance local, national and international engagement with the heritage and natural assets of the region while promoting new opportunities for local sustainable economic development.
The Kurdistan region of Iraq is especially rich in archaeological, historical and ecological sites that have enormous potential for heritage tourism and ecotourism. As yet, this potential has been significantly underdeveloped. While tourists from within Kurdistan and Iraq more widely frequently visit such natural sites as lakes, waterfalls, mountains and forests, there is much less tourist attention on the heritage sites of the region. These sites comprise caves, rock shelters, rock-cut tombs, archaeological mounds and settlements, as well as heritage buildings in cities such as Sulaimaniyah, the cultural capital of Kurdistan, where this project will be focused.
Furthermore, both ecological and heritage sites in Iraqi Kurdistan suffer from a lack of information for those who do visit these important places. Most heritage sites in the region have no on-site information at all, and it is therefore not surprising that very few people make the effort to visit them. There are also problems with access to some of the key sites, which lack suitable roads, visitor pathways, and any form of signage.
In this project, we propose to start the process of developing the cultural and natural assets of Sulaimaniyah province within the context of the UN International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. Through collaboration between the University of Reading Department of Archaeology and the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, Sulaimaniyah, including the Slemani Museum, we will draw on UK and Iraqi expertise across the heritage, creative, tourism and social enterprise sectors to develop economic opportunities for local stakeholders. Working together, we will co-develop and establish:
1. A toolkit for heritage and ecotourism in the region
2. Accessible digital resources for the heritage and ecotourism sector
3. Networks of stakeholders centred on local communities who will take ownership of the project's outcomes for future sustainability.
Through in-depth engagement with local communities in Sulaimaniyah province, this project will establish a framework for the ongoing development of heritage and ecotourism in the region. On this basis, we aim significantly to enhance local, national and international engagement with the heritage and natural assets of the region while promoting new opportunities for local sustainable economic development.
| Description | The HESDIK project aimed to articulate and realise some of the great economic and tourist potential of the heritage and natural resources of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, within the broader context of the UN International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. Building on a decade of collaborative research in the region, funded by the AHRC and other bodies, we carried out a range of activities focused on the Sulaimaniyah region of Iraqi Kurdistan, which hosts some of the most significant archaeological and heritage sites in all Iraq, as well as a wealth of natural assets such as mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and forests. In collaboration with our Project Partner, the Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage of Sulaimaniyah province, we held a series of workshops and stakeholder consultation meetings to identify areas of greatest concern and develop a strategy to encourage sustainable economic opportunities, including resources such as a toolkit for the heritage and ecotourism sectors. Our survey of stakeholders identified contextually-specific issues surrounding tourism in two key regions for heritage and biodiversity. These consultations highlighted: • Tourism is viewed as a potential avenue to develop economic opportunities and infrastructure for young people, particularly in rural areas that are subject to urban drift. • Communities are deeply committed to safeguarding their heritage and natural landscapes. There are concerns about rapid development changing the character of the region and damaging the landscape, founded in negative experiences. • Local startups have been successful in developing sustainable, environmentally-conscious tourism opportunities for internal and international visitors, although they face barriers such as security checks and accommodation outside of urban areas. • Developing local and internal tourism is the first step in establishing sustainable frameworks; stakeholders want more information about and access to their cultural and natural heritage. This has been highlighted by the proliferation of walking groups in Sulaimaniyah Province and an increase in trips for school groups. • Research into the cultural and natural heritage of the region requires further communication and the development of resources to engage local communities first and foremost and that connect stakeholders to their heritage. Through this increased awareness and understanding, stakeholders are empowered to grow economic opportunities. |
| Exploitation Route | Local communities are empowered to take forward plans for economic and cultural activities rooted in a richer appreciation of the heritage and ecological assets local to their villages. |
| Sectors | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.czap.org/HESDIK |
| Description | Through the stakeholder engagement, we have developed dialogues and networks between the cultural heritage, environmental and tourism sectors, which has led to tourism training for heritage professionals. The consultation events have connected local communities to professional and governmental bodies, promoting multivocal approaches to developing sustainable strategies for development. As a result of the information gathered, we have co-produced community-sensitive physical resources, such as trilingual site panels made by local specialists, that deliver stakeholder-driven information regarding heritage and biodiversity. Deriving from the workshops and in collaboration with the Sulaimaniyah-based Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO), we have developed digital resources for heritage to better connect heritage hubs, such as the Slemani Museum, with the cultural heritage sites in the region. We have connected app developers, voice artists and heritage professionals, to co-create AR, VR and web resources that use cultural artefacts as a means of promoting discussions of sustainability and challenges facing communities today. These resources provide opportunities for virtual tourism to break down the barriers in physical access to heritage sites. To enable greater access to these resources, we have enhanced the technological provision in the Slemani Museum, which has a rapidly growing visitor base from local schools and international tourists. Through the development of these resources, we have created opportunities for developing capacity in the heritage sector, including through digital presentation of heritage and communication of heritage for tourism. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Online lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Wendy Matthews and Amy Richardson 2022: ARWA: Houses and Collective Constructions, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Creating early settled communities: new insights into built environments from the Zagros region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | digital humanities event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Amy Richardson 2023: Digital Humanities and the Network Turn, University of Reading, SNA and the archaeology of Iraq: networks of materials and practice in pre- and proto-history. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |