Under the patronage of the President of University of Basra for Oil and Gas, Professor Dr. Muhammad Halil Al-Kaabi, and under the supervision of the Dean of College of Oil and Gas Industrial Management, Professor Dr. Sami Obaid Al-Tamimi, Department of Oil and Gas Economics at College of Oil and Gas Industrial Management organized a scientific discussion symposium entitled "The Role of Tourism in Supporting Basra Economy."
The symposium was held in coordination with Culture, Media, Tourism, and Antiquities Committee of Basra Provincial Council and in cooperation with College of Administration and Economics, Al-Qurna, University of Basra. It was held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The symposium featured the Chairman of Culture, Media, Tourism, and Antiquities Committee of the Basra Provincial Council, Dr. Aqeel Al-Furaiji; Assistant Professor Dr. Zahid Qasim, a lecturer at College of Administration and Economics, Al-Qurna, University of Basra; Director of Basra Tourism, Professor Hussein Al-Rubaie; and Assistant lecturer Issa Jaafar, a lecturer at College of Oil and Gas Industrial Management.
The symposium was moderated by the Head of Department of Oil and Gas Economics lecturer Dr. Adnan Hadi, in support of tourism and economy in Basra, aims to advance tourism and economy. The symposium opened with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Ali Hamoud, a student at College of Industrial Management for Oil and Gas, followed by the national anthem and a recitation of Surat Al-Fatihah for the souls of the martyrs of Iraq and Palestine.
A speech by the Dean of College of Industrial Management for Oil and Gas, Professor Dr. Sami Al-Tamimi, in which he emphasized that tourism in Basra Governorate was progressing steadily, based on a spirit of cooperation between Basra community and the local government. He explained that the governorate's tourism facilities provide a vital and important character for visitors from outside the city, making Basra a destination for tourists from various Iraqi cities and even Arab countries, leading to economic recovery.
The symposium began with many aspects that the lecturers referred to during the scientific symposium and opened the way for dialogue for the attendees to express their opinions on the subject of tourism and the economy in the province. Dr. Aqeel Al-Furaiji, Chairman of Culture, Media, Tourism and Antiquities Committee of the Provincial Council, confirmed that tourism was an important resource that the state could rely on for its economic recovery by stimulating tourism in the province and launching a number of vital and important tourism projects in that sector and paying attention to tourism facilities.
Al-Furaiji explained that the local government in was is striving, through annual plans, to focus on developing foreign investments and developing tourism. Al-Furaiji indicated that Basra could be a tourist destination due to its distinguished geographical location, in addition to its well-known history and ancient heritage. He indicated the completion of strategic and vital tourism projects that raise the tourism reality, including the celebration square project in the center of Basra (Casino Lebanon), which would become a resort and a recreational tourist area for people of Basra for entertainment and receiving tourists, and the ring road and its importance in relieving traffic congestion, in addition to Transforming Al-Khatwa Mosque into the largest mosque in the Middle East, featuring pioneering, contemporary designs.
Assistant Professor Dr. Zahid Qasim, a lecturer at College of Administration and Economics at Al-Qurna, University of Basra, presented a number of figures and statistics showing a number of tourist facilities in the governorate, which were witnessing an increase in tourism projects, including hotels, large green spaces, and numerous recreational tourist sites, compared to previous years.
Basra Tourism Director Hussein Khalil Al-Rubaie also presented a number of important tourist and archaeological landmarks in the province to the attendees. The city also boasts several recreational areas, including Sinbad Island, Basra Civilization Museum, Al-Nakhil Tourist Resort, Basra Sports City, and Al-Farahidi Street for Culture and Books.
The symposium included answers to numerous questions and inquiries regarding the most important tourist, archaeological, and cultural landmarks, as well as the most important foreign investments the province was constantly lacking. That was intended to make the province's tourism landscape attractive to investors, with a unique tourism identity, given its cultural and social heritage, which was one of the most important elements attracting tourists.
The Dean of College of Industrial Management for Oil and Gas expressed his deep gratitude to the lecturers for their attendance, interaction, and the valuable scientific discussions they provided to raise the level of tourism in the governorate. He emphasized the serious and persistent efforts to hold such seminars and scientific workshops in coordination with local authorities.
At the conclusion of the seminar, the Dean honored the lecturers with a shield of excellence and a certificate of appreciation, affirming the college continued momentum in holding such seminars, which contribute to spreading economic and cultural awareness to advance the governorate tourism landscape and absorb and employ the energies of young people in various vital tourism facilities.
