International Conference of Mesopotamian Archaeology

University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq
6th March 2024

In March 2024, I was invited to speak at the 5th International Conference of Mesopotamian Archaeology, hosted by the University of Al-Qadisiyah in Diwaniyah, Iraq. The subject of my paper was ‘Opportunities and challenges for economic diversification, community engagement and sustainability through cultural tourism in Iraq’

Climate change has accelerated the urgent need for oil-dependent economies to transition towards sustainable alternatives. As home to one of the world’s oldest civilisations, Iraq is well-positioned to develop cultural and heritage tourism as a key part of this economic diversification, yet so far, it has not been able to take advantage of this opportunity. Citing regional case studies, my paper suggested ways to do so, through a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches to heritage management.