After decades of armed conflict, Afghanistan’s globally marginalized Taliban rulers are desperate for tourism, and tourists are starting to trickle in.
Tourism could help Kabul, a city with a struggling economy, poor infrastructure and widespread poverty.
Increase in tourists
Afghanistan has no tourism infrastructure. But surprisingly, the number of tourists visiting from different countries is showing a slow but steady increase.
The number of foreign tourists in 2021 was 691. This number rose to 2,300 in 2022 and 7,000 last year. By Afghan standards, these are huge numbers.
Foreigners coming to Japan are encouraged by a sharp drop in violence, increased flights to and from hubs like Dubai, and the bragging rights that come with vacationing in unusual destinations.
A Taliban-run institute that trains tourism and hospitality professionals is preparing a small group to help promote Afghanistan’s rare tourist destinations to the world.
Mohammad Saeed, director of the Kabul Tourism Directorate, said the country’s largest foreign tourist market is due to its proximity to China and large population.
“They tell me Pakistan is dangerous and they don’t want to go because they will attack them. The Japanese also told me that,” Saeed said, adding, “This is good for us. ” he said.
visa issues
The problem tourists face is that obtaining an Afghanistan visa is very difficult and expensive. After the Taliban returned to power, many countries severed ties with Afghanistan. No country recognizes them as the legitimate rulers of the country.
Afghan embassies are closed or cease operations. Saeed acknowledged that there are obstacles to the development of Afghanistan’s tourism industry, but said he was working with ministries to overcome them.
Although Kabul has the highest number of international flights, unlike in the past, no airport in Afghanistan has direct flights to major tourist markets such as China, Europe, and India.
foreign woman
But Saeed wants Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse.
Informal themes are how to interact with foreign women and how their behavior and customs conflict with local customs and laws.
The Taliban imposes dress codes on women and requires them to have a male guardian when they travel. It has become more difficult for women to eat alone, travel alone, and interact with other women in public.
Afghanistan’s only five-star hotel, The Serena, has reopened its women’s spa and salon for foreign women after a long closure. However, women whose ID cards say they were born in Afghanistan are prohibited from using the service.
mutual respect
Shane Horan, founder of Rocky Road Travel, said a visit to Afghanistan should not be seen as an endorsement of the government or political system.
“The ultimate goal should be to support responsible tourism practices that contribute positively to local economies and promote mutual respect and understanding,” she said.
(With input from agency)
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