The Iraqi Ministry of Culture announced on Friday that the local government in Dhi Qar province, southern Iraq, has officially begun procedures to nominate the village of Abu Subat, located in the heart of the Al-Chibayish marshes, to compete in the initiative for the Top 1000 Tourist Villages in the World.

This initiative was launched by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2021, aiming to transform tourism into a driver of rural development and enhance the well-being of local populations.

In this context, Asaad Hussein Al-Qarah Ghuli, Director of the Tourism Department in Dhi Qar, stated that a local committee has been formed for this purpose in coordination with a central committee in Baghdad to complete the necessary data and provide the environmental, service, and security requirements needed to qualify the village as a destination capable of welcoming tourists from around the world.

He added that Abu Subat is the only village nominated from southern Iraq in this round, alongside other villages from central and northern regions such as Hor Al-Delmij, Karbala, and areas in the Kurdistan Region.

The UN initiative has recognized more than 70 tourist villages from around 40 countries with the “Best Tourism Villages” label, in addition to selecting 40 other villages for the Upgrade Program, which offers guidance, technical support, and international networking opportunities to help develop their tourism potential.

It’s worth noting that Abu Subat is located about 90 kilometers east of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar province, and represents a fully integrated model reflecting the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of Iraq’s marshlands.