KABUL, Afghanistan — KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) —
About 30 men are crammed into a classroom in Kabul. They are part of the debut batch of students at the Taliban-run institute for training tourism and hospitality professionals.
We have a diverse crew. One of the students is a model. The other person is 17 years old and has no work history.
Students vary in age, education level, and professional experience. They are all men and know nothing about tourism or hospitality, as Afghan women are prohibited from studying beyond the 6th grade. But they are all keen to promote another side of Afghanistan. And the Taliban are happy to help.
Afghanistan’s rulers have become pariahs on the world stage, primarily due to their restrictions on women and girls. The economy is in decline, infrastructure is poor, and poverty is widespread.
Still, foreigners are visiting the country, encouraged by a sharp drop in violence, an increase in connecting flights to hubs like Dubai, and the bragging rights that come with vacationing in an unusual destination. Although the number is not large, tourism in Afghanistan is becoming a hot topic.
The number of foreign tourists in 2021 was 691. In 2022, that number has increased to 2,300. Last year there were 7,000 people.
Mohammad Saeed, director of the Kabul Tourism Directorate, said the country’s largest foreign tourist market is due to its proximity to China and its large population. Afghanistan also has advantages over some of its neighbors.
“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.
However, there are also disadvantages.
Visas are difficult and expensive to obtain. Many countries have severed ties with Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power, and no country recognizes the Taliban as the country’s legitimate rulers.
Afghan embassies have closed or ceased operations. A power struggle continues between Afghan embassies and consulates staffed by Western-backed former government officials and those under full control of the Taliban regime.
Saeed acknowledged that there are obstacles to the development of Afghanistan’s tourism industry, but said he was working with ministries to overcome them.
His ultimate goal is to obtain a tourist visa on arrival, but that could be years away. The road network is problematic, half-paved or non-existent in some parts of the country, and airlines largely avoid Afghan airspace.
Although the capital, Kabul, has the most international flights, no airport in Afghanistan has direct flights to major tourist markets such as China, Europe, and India.
Despite the challenges, Mr Saeed wants Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse, an ambition that appears to be supported by top Taliban leaders.
“I was sent to this department on the instructions of the elders (ministers). They should trust me since they sent me to this important place.”
Students also have dreams. Model Ahmed Masoud Talash wants to know about Afghanistan’s beautiful spots and media appearances that he posts on Instagram.
Sameer Ahmadzai, a business school graduate, wants to open a hotel, but first he thinks he needs to know more about tourism and hospitality.
“They hear that Afghanistan is backward, there is poverty and there is a lot of war,” Ahmadzai said. “We have a history of 5,000 years. A new page for Afghanistan should be born.”
Classes include basics of Afghan handicrafts and anthropology.
Informal themes are how to interact with foreign women and how their behavior and customs conflict with local customs and laws. Examples include women smoking or eating in public, or freely associating with men to whom they are not related by blood or marriage.
The Taliban imposes dress codes on women and requires them to be accompanied by a male guardian (maharam) when traveling. She has difficulty eating alone, traveling alone, and interacting with other women in public. Gyms are off-limits to women, and beauty salons are also prohibited, so there are fewer places to meet women outside the home.
In a sign that the country is preparing for more international visitors, The Serena, the country’s only five-star hotel, is closing its doors to foreign women after a month-long closure. The spa and salon have reopened.
Foreigners must present their passport to use the service. Women who have “Afghanistan-born” written on their ID cards are barred from entering the country.
Restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan weigh heavily on foreign travel companies, who encourage cultural exchange by making donations, supporting local projects and visiting only family-run businesses. I’m trying to focus on the positive aspects.
Shane Horan, founder of Rocky Road Travel, said a visit to Afghanistan should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular government or political system.
“The ultimate goal should be to support responsible tourism practices that contribute positively to the local economy and promote mutual respect and understanding, while recognizing Afghanistan’s broader political context.”
She said there was no information from authorities about what the travel group saw or did and that the company was working closely with women’s rights groups in Afghanistan. A portion of the tour costs went toward supporting the organization’s programs, Horan added.
There are no women at the Tourism Hotel Management Research Institute. Students don’t mention it. But officials from the Directorate General of Tourism do.
“It’s a heartbreaking situation,” said the official, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. “Women in my family also ask me, “Can I study here?” However, with the change of government, the policy changed. Women who studied before (the takeover) never returned. They never graduated.”
