KABUL, Afghanistan: Despite Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers being pariahs on the global stage, mainly due to their restrictions on women and girls, the government is working to attract more international tourists.
Encouraged by the sharp drop in violence, increased flight connections with hubs like Dubai, and the bragging rights of going on holiday in an unusual destination, foreigners are increasingly visiting the country, albeit in small numbers.
In 2021, 691 foreign tourists visited. 2022 this figure rose to 2,300, and in 2023, it increased to 7,000.
Mohammad Saeed, Head of the Tourism Directorate in Kabul, said that because of its proximity and large population, the most significant foreign visitor market is China, adding that Afghanistan also has advantages over some of its neighbors.
“They have told me they do not want to go to Pakistan because it is dangerous, and they get attacked. The Japanese have said this to me alsoThis is good for us,” Saeed said.
However, visas to Afghanistan are difficult and expensive, and many countries have severed ties with the Taliban, which no country recognizes as the country’s legitimate rulers after they returned to power.
While conceding that there are obstacles to the development of Afghan tourism, Saeed said he is working with ministries to overcome them. He added that his aim is to have a visa on arrival for tourists, but this could be years away.
Many issues affect Afghanistan’s road network, which is half-paved or non-existent in some parts of the country. International airlines mainly avoid Afghan airspace.
The capital, Kabul, has the most international flights, but no Afghan airport has direct routes with significant tourist markets, such as China, Europe, or India.
Saeed said that despite the challenges, he wants Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse, an ambition backed by the Taliban leadership.
“I have been sent to this department on the instructions of the elders (ministers). They must trust me because they have sent me to this important place,” he said.
