Tourism is a global phenomenon, multidimensional and with profound effects that countries around the world face by reopening their borders. Tourists gain new experiences and knowledge by interacting with other cultures, regions and countries, and understand the importance of improving their relationships with each other. The presence of visitors in any country affects the life pattern of indigenous people. Visitors are also influenced by the culture of the host country and its values.
The growth of the tourism industry is associated with positive and negative economic, social, cultural and even environmental effects in the tourist community. Therefore, to creating balance in tourism, it required to adopt principles policies through planning and management, to have positive impacts more than the deterrent effects.
Tourism can enhance understanding and acceptance among the communities and different group members, and consequently reduces intergroup or community prejudice, tension, and conflict. So, it is the only industry that is directly related to peace, tranquillity and friendship between peoples and cultures.
According to many researchers, De-escalating Conflicts is one of the most serious approaches in tourism policy. Although it may seem that the main role in the decision of countries to de-escalate tensions is taken by leaders and politicians. But people can also play a role in adopting and pursuing this policy. When individuals change their perceptions of host countries, they create the conditions for leaders to decide to change their approach to that country; Because the decisions of leaders are influenced by public opinion in society. Tourism has been identified for the opportunities it provides for social contact to occur.
The tourism industry has the potential to influence international relations. Tourism and travel are a tool for public diplomacy and international development and powerful response to global challenges and terrorism. This industry not only benefits from peace but is itself a vital force for the spread of peace among nations.
Tourism is defined, as a tool to strengthen national identity, sustainability, national solidarity at the community level and internationally to civilizations, a friendship of nations and world peace. This define shows the potentiality of resolving social and political conflicts between Neighboring countries through tourism cooperation.
Tourism: Path of Peace
The modern world cannot be imagined without contacts, both intergovernmental and interpersonal. Because of this, countries experiencing bilateral political problems or chronic conflicts like Iran and Iraq, cannot avoid commercial relations between them, even by informal ways or through the mediation of other countries.
The credibility of the tourism sector can be imagined with the socio-economic effects and the potential for resolving disputes and chronic disputes between border countries through tourism cooperation.
Iran and Iraq comprise an ideal case study for the role of tourism in conflict solution and peace. Since they are two cross border countries having political conflicts even fought each other for 8 years, but, at the same time, they had subscription commercial relations. Both countries have paid a lot of expense in many years ago to defend their dignity, honor, and land. With the fall of Saddam and the Ba’ath party in Iraq, after two years of silence, the two countries restore diplomatic relations for the first time since the war, then agreed to issue visas to pilgrims.
Both countries offer similar tourist product (history, civilization, nature, food, entertainment, etc.) and have become closer by tourism activities.
The cancellation of the Arbaeen Hosseini ceremony visa has economic and security benefits, and the high number of Arbaeen pilgrims caused the two countries’ economies to flourish. Every year, more than 3 million Iranian pilgrims take part in the magnificent 20-million pilgrimage to Arbaeen and travel to Karbala. Iran and Iraq are working to register the Arbaeen Walk as a world record.
Also, demand for the pilgrimage to Imam Reza in Iran by Iraqi tourists raised among the Ahl al-Bayt fanatics. So, pilgrimage tours to Iran and Iraq have been facilitated in recent years.
The abolition of visa fees for travel to Iran and Iraq, the speed of visa issuance in Iranian embassies in neighboring countries and the lack of visa stickers in passports due to the electronic issuance of Iranian visas are important reasons for increasing the willingness of Iraqis to travel to Iran on vacation.
On the other hand, Tourism in Iraq has also flourished in recent years thanks to the presence of Iranian tourists. Statistics show that the tourism industry in Iraq is the country’s largest source of income, after oil. Every year, millions of pilgrim’s travels to Karbala, Najaf, Samarra, and Baghdad to visit Shiite religious sites. Meanwhile, most of the foreign tourists who go to Iraq are Iranians. On the eve of Shiite religious occasions, up to 10,000 Iranian pilgrims travel to Iraq daily.
Iraq is a war-torn country. Its healthcare infrastructure is in serious trouble. The lack of specialized medical personnel in Iraq has created, a good opportunity for Iraqi tourists to be able to use the capacities and attractions of tourism, as well as the facilities and medical equipment and the health sector of Iran. 17% of the population of two million Iraqi tourists in Iran is dedicated to health tourism.
Increasing communication between these two, especially through travel and direct observation, can counteract much misinformation. The presence of tourists in a country and familiarity with the various manifestations of that country is important because after returning to their country, they have to carry the correct knowledge and evaluation for their compatriots. They are a reliable medium to advertise for the host country. By creating more communication, empathy and contact between different cultures, tourism can turn enmities into friendships and understandings and help promote world peace and stability by creating mutual understanding between nations.
With the existence of conflicting political, economic and ideological systems between countries, there is believe that ideological differences and political tastes should not be allowed to affect the relationship between countries. The mutual understanding and trust atmosphere must be created in bilateral and multilateral relations to replace fear and suspicion.
Conflict solution policy seeks to establish peaceful relations between Iran and Iraq by recognizing the current situation. In other words, Conflict solution means turning to a foreign policy based on compatibility, coexistence and cooperation in relations with other countries. Such diplomacy seeks to develop relations with countries in the international arena by following the principles of coexistence, cooperation and convergence based on trust and goodwill, instead of hostile and confrontational relations, leading to a system of international peace.
It is clear that the development of religious and health tourism as a basic vehicle for promoting understanding and trust among these two nationalities require an appropriate political and economic framework. In the end, tourism and travel plays the role of an engine for development in post-conflict peace in this part of the middle east.
Tourism: The Key Instrument for Peace
Tourism is a magical instrument for peace and democracy in today’s world. If managed effectively, tourism has the potential to promote sustainable development, fostering peace and stability within and between nations, even in the most sensitive environments and fragile communities of our world. Evaluating the case of Iraq and Iran, two neighbouring countries with various conflicts from time to time, now they have the chance to evaluate the importance of tourism in their relations and in the growth of their tourism market share.
Tourism destinations do not select people to travel to that destination, so there may be abuses in this great economic and cultural activity that is not by the tastes and values of society. Therefore, it is possible to manage the destination by monitoring, informing the host and guest community and observing the international codes of tourism ethics, so that the waste of such cases is minimized.
While the rift between the Iran and Iraq communities is undeniable, but the active role of the tourism sector and its importance towards possible cooperation between them becomes very clear.
The positive and effective points of tourism and the role it can play in resolving tensions should not be disregarded.
By Fatemeh Salimi