Abstract
Following the extensive destruction of the Old City of Mosul during the events preceding and accompanying its liberation in 2017, large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation initiatives were launched by national and international organizations. These efforts led to the restoration of major religious and heritage landmarks and encouraged the gradual return of tourism activities within the historic urban fabric. Despite these developments, heritage tourism in the Old City remains fragmented, with heritage sites largely treated as isolated attraction points rather than as parts of an integrated cultural system.
This research proposes the adoption of thematic/topic-based routes as a strategic framework for planning and managing heritage tourism in the Old City of Mosul. Building on international literature on cultural and thematic routes, the study develops a comprehensive methodology for identifying, organizing, and implementing thematic routes that reflect the city’s diverse cultural identity. The proposed methodology integrates heritage inventory and mapping, thematic identification, spatial linking of heritage assets, interpretive planning, and participatory evaluation.
Based on a questionnaire survey involving heritage experts and stakeholders, four principal thematic routes were identified: the Diverse Religious Heritage Route, the Trade and Traditional Markets Route, the Urban Life and Ottoman Architecture Route, and the Conflict, Memory, and Reconstruction Route. A detailed application of the methodology is presented through a case study of the Diverse Religious Heritage Route, emphasizing interreligious coexistence, post-conflict resilience, and shared urban space. The study concludes that thematic routes offer an effective and sustainable tool for enhancing heritage tourism, strengthening cultural interpretation, and supporting socio-economic revitalization in post-conflict historic cities.
