ArTourBagh aims: heritage conservation and promotion

ArTourBagh (Archaeology and Tourism in Baghdad) is a three-year Italian project (2024-2027) aimed at promoting the sustainable development of cultural tourism in Baghdad and, more broadly, in Iraq. The objective is to enhance and promote the country’s rich artistic, historical, and archaeological heritage by leveraging Italian expertise in heritage conservation and promotion.

The project is based on three main actions:

• Conservation of archaeological heritage and inclusive training: provide training in the management and conservation of cultural heritage, involving local professionals and communities in enhancement plans;
• Awareness and promotion of heritage: Promote Baghdad’s cultural heritage in Iraq and abroad through events, seminars, and public meetings, involving national and international institutions, as well as through the nomination of the site of Aqar Quf in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Sustainable business development: establish optimal practices for managing and accessing the historical heritage and traditions of the Iraqi capital and encourage employment in the cultural tourism sector, including underrepresented groups in the labor market.

Through activities focused on these objectives, the ambition is to create a sustainable itinerary for cultural tourism of ancient Mesopotamia, contributing to the economic and social revival of Baghdad and Iraq.

The ArTourBagh project addresses several urgent issues which are included within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with the mission of University of Bologna since 2016.