Religious Tourism, Economic Development, and Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case of Iraq

The research aims to analyze the reality of religious tourism in Iraq and its role in the development of the Iraqi economy, as the elements of religious tourism in Iraq were reviewed, represented by the shrines of a large number of prophets (peace be upon him), the infallible imams (peace be upon them), the saints and the righteous (may God be pleased with him), as well as the shrines and mosques that have their sanctity in history Al-Kufa Mosque, Al-Sahla Mosque, Basra Mosque, and Al-Hanana Mosque. Iraq includes most of the Muslim shrines and sanctities, as about 90 percent of the shrines of the prophets and saints, shrines and shrines in the Arab countries. However, it has been found that tourism's contribution is weak and not commensurate with what the country possesses in religious tourism components and other components. Tourism revenues, according to the highest estimates, do not exceed at best $10.9 billion according to the data of 2020, as the available elements of the tourism offer have not been optimally exploited. One of the most important recommendations of the research is to pay attention to religious tourism and provide the necessary facilities for visitors and work to expand and develop the holy cities to increase their absorptive capacity, support the private sector and allow it to invest in the field of religious tourism and overcome the difficulties it faces to play its role in promoting the tourism sector