The Role of Natural Water Resources in the Development of the Tourism sector in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq

Introduction: 

             Water resources are a key factor in protecting nature and ensuring a suitable environment for humans. However, public knowledge about the importance of water resources is very limited and therefore scientific and practical work is needed to raise the level of citizens' perception and appreciation of the issue of water resources.

International organizations, especially the United Nations, have concluded that water will be the major issue of the 21st century, and this belief has been emphasized at all international conferences since the Dublin Conference in 2014 in New York. [1]

“Surface water is the water sources that flow throughout the year, i.e. permanent rivers, along with sources formed after rainfall and melting snow, i.e. seasonal rivers,” In this regard, the amount of rainfall and snowmelt affect surface and groundwater. [2]

Although the use of water and the way it is used has changed throughout history, water resources have been regarded as an economic and social asset at all stages of history. Misuse of water resources is no different from their absence, and many of the negative impacts faced by humans have been and are still associated with mismanagement of water resources.[3]

Water income as an economic asset has played a major role in the survival and development of human beings and their activities. Humans have always sought to secure water resources in nature. 

At the same time, water resources as a social asset are intertwined with human health and spirituality. Through water resources, collective social traditions have emerged that have influenced people's psychologies. Water has constantly affected the human body and soul. In our time, the threat of drought, pollution and misuse of water resources makes it necessary for us to find new strategies for water resource management that will result in the protection of the environment and nature. Raising public awareness of the importance of water can even create new job and business opportunities in relation to water resources, which will be beneficial for the economy and change the way water is used.

Research Aims: 

         In this study, water resources refer to surface water, which includes all exposed water bodies on the Earth's surface, the most important of which are streams, rivers, lakes, and seas.

This study attempts to present the position and importance of water resources in relation to tourism in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. For this purpose, the study analysis several specific studies on this subject and tries to re-present these studies from the perspective of water resources and highlight the position of water resources as a major factor for the survival or non-survival of tourism in Kurdistan.

Research Hypothesis: 

1.     Are water resources a key criterion for determining tourist destinations? In other words, Is it the main pillar of tourism?

2.     To what extent is the issue of tourism in Kurdistan linked to the issue of water resources?

3.     Can tourist destinations exist in the Kurdistan Region without water resources?

Tourist areas in the Kurdistan Region

         Water resources are closely related to the emergence and development of tourism and affect tourism activities directly and indirectly, in a way that a large part of tourism activities are directly related to water resources.[4] The Kurdistan Region, compared to other parts of Iraq, has more tourist areas and more favorable weather and more rain and snow, these factors have encouraged the emergence of many tourist destinations in the Kurdistan Region. This is especially evident when one looks at the significant number of tourists from other parts of Iraq that visit the tourist destinations of the Kurdistan Region. One of the main reasons for the existence of these tourist areas, in addition to suitable water and atmosphere, is the presence of a significant number of rivers, lakes and streams in Kurdistan that have strengthened the ground for tourist areas. Surface water includes all water bodies that are visible on the earth, the most important of which are streams, rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans.[5] The Kurdistan Region has many such rivers, the most important of which are: Teet, Siwayl, Great and Little Zabs, Jogesur, Balkh and Mawat. Many of these rivers have other tributaries, some seasonal and some permanent, such as the Sewell River and its tributaries, Qzalche and Shler, as well as other tributaries that flow into the Sewell such as Kanar and Mirawa. These rivers and their seasonal and permanent tributaries could become the basis of many more tourist areas, but so far, they are underused due to their seasonality. One of the main sources of  surface water in the Kurdistan Region is the Tigris River, all five of whose tributaries flow through Kurdistan. [6] Furthermore, for all rivers, and their seasonal tributaries, the amount of rain and snow have large effects on their growth and sustainability. One of the reasons for the underuse of these rivers seems to be due to the geographical location of the rivers, for example in the Raperin area, where most of the rivers are located in mountainous and valley areas, but they can become important tourist destinations. Many of these rivers cover a large area such as the Little Zab, and also have many tributaries such as the Hisop, Qashan and Shaware. Most of these rivers have tourism potential but are underutilized. Water resources affect tourism activities directly and indirectly.[7] In other words, a large part of water resources constitutes the main source of tourism and without them tourism areas will collapse. River and lake water, for example, are the main source for many of the activities in these tourist areas, such as swimming, boating, sailing, and fishing that are directly connected to the water. The indirect effects of water resources on tourism, can be highlighted by discussing the natural environment that provides water resources for tourism destinations. In some tourist areas, for example in Sulaimani province, the abundance of surface water resources has led to the emergence of a large number of tourist areas. As Amanj Jalal Ahmad's research shows, in the province of Sulaimani, out of 26 projects, 21 are directly affected by water resources. This is due to the presence of Dukan Lake, small rivers and streams. Meanwhile, the flow of large rivers such as the Little Zab, which is about 407 kilometers long, can support many more tourist areas. This river also connects many villages and districts of the region, including the Pishdar and Bitwan plains and reaches Dubz and Altun Kupri through different branches. However, as the study found, the use of the Little Zab in tourism is limited, while it can become a major tourism support due to the suitability of the river and its tributaries. For example, the water temperature of the Little Zab is about 20 degrees and is suitable for tourism activities. The closeness of the Little Zab to the districts has also made it easy to travel to the banks of the river. The Little Zab because of its location has beautiful scenery and it is also rich in fish and its banks are covered with trees. The same is true for the Tabin River, which flows alongside several villages and can make these villages very attractive tourist areas. Apart from Gali Khdran resort, which is a crowded tourist destination, there are no other tourist destinations in the area, or if there are any, they are without services. This is despite the fact that the presence of many forests in the area, can be used to develop tourism. Charmga stream, Khri Saraw and Kalkan streams and many other streams are in this area but they have not been utilized. Additionally, in the same area, there exists several lakes and ponds, such as Begel Pond, which is formed by the melting snow of the Qandil mountain range and has created a beautiful natural landscape. But the most important of all these water resources is the Dukan Lake, which covers about 250 square kilometers and originates from the Little Zab. The Dukan Dam, which was built to prevent floods, to promote irrigation, electricity generation, fishing, and tourism, has become an attractive tourist destination due to the surrounding mountains. The lake has a coastline of about 145 kilometers, which can become a tourist city in some certain locations. Unlike many countries that have a large number of lakes and seas, but due to cold water and air can not use their water resources for tourism, all lakes and rivers in Kurdistan, almost in all four seasons have the ability to attract tourists due to suitable weather. As the research of Rebaz Luqman Mustafa shows, Penjwen district is rich in seasonal streams and rivers that are created by heavy rains and can be used for tourism. Penjwen also has permanent rivers that have a natural stream of water throughout the year, because groundwater accounts for most of the water of these rivers. For example, the Shler River, which has water in all four seasons, consists of the confluence of three other small rivers, Mishaw, Spikan and Shahidan, and many other wells. All these rivers occupy a certain area that can become the basis of a good tourist destination. Although several tourist areas such as Sarsuraw, Sheikh Alwan and Goli have been established, much larger tourist areas could be established. Seasonal streams, which are water sources formed by melting mountain snow and rain, can become the basis of seasonal tourist areas. In Pinjwen district, for example, there are many streams such as Darokhan, Wene and Dole Soor that are flooded in winter and spring and can embrace tourists for these seasons. These areas have a lot of groundwater and become many tourist attractions in the form of springs, wells, and streams.

Restructuring the relationship between water resources and tourism

       In previous discussions, based on field research, the fact that tourism in the Kurdistan Region is largely linked to water resources was emphasized. In fact, this relationship is such that water resources are transformed into a major factor in the emergence, sustainability, and development of tourist destinations in the Kurdistan Region. At the same time, the presence of a large number of lakes, seasonal streams and rivers with their seasonal and permanent tributaries, can be a direct support for the further development of the tourism economy in Kurdistan. This economy can create more jobs and become a strong source of revenue for the Kurdistan Region. This issue is of particular importance for further economic independence and diversification of the Kurdistan Region so that the economy doesn’t solely depend on unpredictable oil revenues. 

However, this relationship must be two-way. In other words, water resources will be a major  support for tourism in the Kurdistan Region and at the same time the tourism economy should be a factor in maintaining, protecting, and developing water resources. Not only should the tourism economy not be built on drying up and wasting water resources, but on the contrary, it can become a factor in further regulating and protecting water resources in the Kurdistan Region. These wise and strategic uses create a two-way relationship between water revenues and tourism, in which a certain part of the tourism economy is allocated to the conservation and promotion of water resources. Water use tax collection will be implemented in tourist destinations to prevent water wastage and generate revenue to conserve water resources. This two-way process will eventually be a strong supporter of tourist destinations and The Kurdistan Region’s economy.

Conclusion 

         This study shows that in general, water resources are a major factor in the emergence and development of tourism destinations in the Kurdistan Region. The value and strategic nature of this national asset becomes more apparent when it is linked to the issue of tourism in the Kurdistan Region. In the region, there are favorable conditions for increasing and developing these tourist destinations, both in number and quality. The tourism economy can become a strategic source of revenue for the Kurdistan Region and can help achieving economic diversification and independence in the region. This will occur when water resources are used more wisely, which will be the basis for the development and expansion of tourist destinations. This study shows that the Kurdistan Region has many water resources that are either unused or poorly used. Restructuring the relationship between water resources and tourism can effectively preserve and develop both issues and use them in public service.

References 

[1] Mohammed Amin, Hawre Yasin, Geography of Natural Resources, Ghazalnoos Printing House, Sulaimani 2015, p. 213

[2] Mustafa, Rebaz Luqman, Geographical Capabilities of Tourism Planning and Development in Penjwen District Using GIS, Sulaimani University, Master's Thesis, Unpublished, 2016, p. 49

[3] Muhammad Amin, Azad, Geography of Natural Resources, Dar Al-Hekma Press, Baghdad, 1990, p. 2.

[4] Mohammed, Atman Mohammed, Geographical Principles of Tourism Planning in Sharbazher District, Master's Thesis (Unpublished), 2015 p.48
[5] Mohammed Amin, Hawre Yasin, Geography of Natural Resources, Ghazalnoos Printing House, Sulaimani 2015, p. 232

 
[6] Yousef, Azhin Anwar, Natural Capabilities of Tourism Planning and Development in Mountainous Areas of Raperin Administration, Raperin University Master's Thesis (Unpublished), 2017 p. 102

[7] Ahmad, Amanj Jalal, Geographical Analysis of Tourism Development Capabilities in Dukan District, Koya University, Master's Thesis, Unpublished, Newroz 2715, p. 80