This research aims to highlight the vital role played by the tour guide in promoting and developing the tourism sector in Iraq, a country with rich historical, religious, and cultural tourism potential. However, this sector suffers from a lack of infrastructure and qualified human resources, particularly in the field of tour guiding.

The research also reviews the concept of tour guiding, the skills and functions of the guide, and their role in improving the tourist experience and promoting a positive image of the country, which positively impacts economic and cultural tourism revenues. It also discusses the reality of tour guiding in Iraq and the obstacles facing those working in this field, such as a lack of training, weak legislation, and a lack of community awareness of the importance of this role.

The researcher relied on a descriptive-analytical approach and used field tools such as questionnaires and interviews to collect data from a group of tour guides, officials, and tourists. The research concluded that the tour guide has a direct impact on tourists' feelings of comfort, satisfaction, and their intention to repeat visits, and that the lack of competent or absent guides negatively impacts Iraq's tourism image. The research concludes with practical recommendations for enhancing the role of the tour guide through training and qualification, updating legislation, and activating the role of governmental and private tourism institutions.

First: Arabic Books:

Al-Hassan, Ahmed, 2020, Modern Concepts in Tourism and Development, Dar Al-Fikr Al-Jami'i

Al-Dulaimi, Muhammad, 2020, Tourism Legislation in Iraq, Baghdad, Dar Al-Murtada

Al-Sumaidaie, Hassan, 2020, Introduction to Tourist Guidance, Dar Al-Noor Academic

Al-Sayed, Adel, 2021, Tourist Guidance: Theories and Applications, Cairo, Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi

Saleh, Wissam, 2017, Tourism Economics and Its Role in National Development, Al-Rasheed Library

Al-Ani, Muhammad Hadi, 1998, Islamic Civilization in Iraq, Baghdad, University of Baghdad

Abdul Aziz, Adnan, 2003, Ancient History of Iraq, Baghdad, General Directorate of Cultural Affairs

Al-Ani, Diaa, 2019, Tourism and Sustainable Development in Iraq, Dar Al-Hikma

Second: Academic Journals:

Saeed, Nabil, 2020, "The Tourist Guidance Profession in Iraq: Reality and Hope," Iraqi Journal of Tourism and Antiquities, Volume 6, Issue 2

Hassan, Nizar, 1995, "Tourist Guides in Iraq: Evolution of the Role and Challenges," Iraqi Tourism Journal, Issue 7

Al-Shammari, Haider, 2021, "Tourist Guiding in Iraq: Reality and Challenges," Journal of Tourism Research, Issue 6

Al-Moussawi, Qasim, 2022, "A Field Analysis of the Reality of the Tourist Guiding Profession," Center for Tourism Studies, University of Kufa

Ali, Hassanein, 2023, "The Role of Tourism Education in Preparing Guides in Iraq," Journal of Social Studies, Issue 9

Abdul-Razzaq, Raad, 2018, "Religious Tourism and Its Impact on Shaping the Reality of Tourist Guiding," Journal of Cultural Studies, Issue 3, p. 49

Al-Rubaie, Mazen, 2019, "The Role of Tourist Guiding in Shaping the Tourist Impression," Arab Tourism Journal, Issue 1

Al-Dulaimi, Imad, 2018, "Tourism in Iraq: Reality and Ambition," Journal of Tourism Studies, Issue 12

Al-Hashemi, Fatima, 2021, "Cultural Tourism and Cultural Exchange," Journal of Culture and Society, Issue 8

Al-Shammari, Haider, 2023, "The Reality of Tourism in Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities," Journal of Geographical Research, Issue 7

Third: Government Sources

Department of Religious Tourism, 2022, Annual Activity Report for 2021, Baghdad, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities

Iraqi Ministry of Culture, 1991, Report on the Tourism Sector in Iraq 1980-1990, Baghdad, Tourism Department

Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, 2022, Report on the Development of Tourist Guidance in Iraq, Baghdad

Fourth: Translated Sources

William, R. T., 2009, A Journey to Ottoman Iraq, translated by Hassan Abdullah, Beirut, Dar Al-Jamal

UNESCO, 2006, Assessment Report on the Tourism Sector in Iraq after 2003, Baghdad, UNESCO Regional Office

UNESCO, 2020, Tourism and World Heritage Protection

UNDP, 2023, Cultural Tourism Development Plan in Iraq, New York, United Nations Development Programme

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 2019, Annual World Tourism Report

Foreign Sources:

UNESCO & UNDP Iraq, 2021, Capacity Building in the Iraqi Tourism Sector, Joint Report

UNWTO, 2018, Tourist Guide Qualifications and Standards

UNWTO, 2023, World Tourism Highlights