Professor Jamal Baqir, a Professor at the Center of Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad, participated in the Ninth International Scientific Conference on the Arbaeen Pilgrimage, held at the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). He presented his research titled “The Role of Tourist Housing in the Sustainability of the City of Karbala During the Arbaeen Pilgrimage.” The conference was attended by professors, academics, and sheikhs from various Arab and Iraqi universities. The research aimed to achieve sustainability in the city of Karbala, particularly during the Arbaeen pilgrimage. It relied on two main concepts: event cities and competitiveness.
Dr. Mutlaq emphasized at the beginning of his research that Karbala has become a city with a major religious event, particularly the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). Modern concepts in urban development focus on events, whether religious, sporting, cultural, or heritage. These cities attempt to capitalize on these events to develop the city, attract tourists, and develop their infrastructure. Meanwhile, these cities work to discover themselves and their capabilities and utilize them to achieve sustainability and meet the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations. This sustainability encompasses social, economic, environmental, urban, and cultural aspects.
The research focused on the topic of sustainable tourist housing, which is divided into voluntary tourist housing and commercial tourist housing, which is used during major events or occasions in cities.
After conducting an in-depth and intelligent survey on the opinions of residents, merchants, and visitors, the study concluded that tourist housing has become a source of additional income for the city’s residents and helps stimulate economic activity represented by markets, restaurants, hotels, and transportation. Furthermore, it is important to provide housing for visitors, especially families who desire this type of accommodation, as it provides privacy and reduces pressure on other accommodation centers due to the annual increase in the number of new residents.
