The Infrastructure and the Potential of the Tourism Industry in the Holy City of Najaf.

Abstract

The infrastructure is one of the basic components of the tourism industry in Iraq in general and in Najaf in particular, in spite of there are obstacles and problems that which are hindered the development of tourism in Iraq, some of them are related to the  tourism industry itself, some are related to the security and political situation, and some are related to poor management of tourism. However, the infrastructure is considered the cornerstone of the success of the tourism industry in Iraq and other countries, if it is available, it can be a potential indicator of success, and on the contrary, it is a hindrance to go forward. The aim of this research is to shed light on the availability of requirements for the success of the tourism industry as far as the infrastructure is concerned. As for the method used, it is the random horizontal survey, by distributing a questionnaire to a random sample of visitors or tourists to the city of Najaf. Although the tourism industry in Iraq has the potential to create and expand the economic  activities and commercial services, and help to create new and developing urban communities. However, the tourism industry needs a kind of integrated services, which start with the qualified and trained human component, and advanced infrastructure. Overall evaluation of infrastructure services was on the basis of ranks, the first rank is average and the second rank is acceptable while the third rank was good and the fourth rank is poor. Hence, the infrastructure which is supporting the spatial development is not likely to be more than two thirds of the evaluation outside the good evaluation, or it is in the third rank as seem in the overall evaluation of the infrastructure in Najaf, this leads to a review of infrastructure planning as an important factor in the development of the tourism industry in Najaf. The local government and the private sector must invest in a kind of integrated services, which start with the qualified and trained human element and infrastructure.