The Center for Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad discussed the master’s thesis entitled (Sustainable Tourism Industry in Areas Surrounding Historical Sites “Case Study Babylon”), by the student Israa Hamid Hantoush, and supervised by Professor Dr. Amel Shaker Khadir. The study aimed to address the impact of urban expansion and land use changes on sustainable tourism development strategies in Babylon Governorate, in a way that enhances the preservation of historical sites and the sustainability of cultural heritage, evaluates the reality of current tourism development and its compatibility with sustainability requirements, and proposes practical policies to promote sustainable tourism while preserving the city’s identity.

The student concluded in her thesis that the random urban expansion in Babylon represents a major threat to the cultural identity of historical sites, accompanied by a clear lack of infrastructure and services that negatively affect the attractiveness of the sites to tourists. The thesis recommended the importance of developing a comprehensive plan to regulate urban expansion, including the establishment of buffer zones around historical sites and improving infrastructure and tourism services to make the area more attractive. It also stressed the need to develop awareness programs for local residents to enhance their role in preserving heritage, managing sustainable tourism, and shifting to adopting modern technological tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) and smart applications to improve the visitor experience, and enhancing local and international marketing of historical sites as distinct tourist destinations.

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