Cik Syed and Abang Cottonmouth, a New 5000yrs History Virgin Tourism Hotspot for u next Spring

[k1976]

From spring offensive to charm offensive: The Taliban are working to woo tourists to Afghanistan​

RIAZAT BUTT
Tue, 30 April 2024 at 12:15 pm SGT5-min read

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Afghanistan Tourism​

Afghans work in the garden of the renovated Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) —
Around 30 men are crammed into a Kabul classroom, part of the debut student cohort at a Taliban-run institute training tourism and hospitality professionals.
It’s a motley crew. One student is a model. Another is 17 and has no job history.
The students vary in age, education level and professional experience. They're all men — Afghan women are banned from studying beyond sixth grade — and they don't know anything about tourism or hospitality. But they are all eager to promote a different side of Afghanistan. And the Taliban are happy to help.

 

[k1976]

Afghanistan’s rulers are pariahs on the global stage, largely because of their restrictions on women and girls. The economy is struggling, infrastructure is poor, and poverty is rife.

And yet, foreigners are visiting the country, encouraged by the sharp drop in violence, increased flight connections with hubs like Dubai, and the bragging rights that come with vacationing in an unusual destination. The numbers aren’t huge — they never were — but there’s a buzz around Afghan tourism.

In 2021, there were 691 foreign tourists. In 2022, that figure rose to 2,300. Last year, there were 7,000.

Mohammad Saeed, the head of the Tourism Directorate in Kabul, said the biggest foreign visitor market is China because of its proximity and large population. Afghanistan also has advantages over some of its neighbors.

 

[k1976]

They’ve told me they don’t want to go to Pakistan because it’s dangerous and they get attacked. The Japanese have said this to me also," Saeed said. “This is good for us.”

But there are disadvantages, too.

Visas are difficult and expensive to access. Many countries severed ties with Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power, and no country recognizes them as the legitimate rulers of the country.

Afghan embassies either closed or suspended their operations. There's an ongoing power struggle between Afghanistan’s embassies and consulates staffed by people from the former Western-backed administration, and those under the Taliban administration’s full control.

 

[k1976]

Saeed concedes there are obstacles for Afghan tourism to develop but said he was working with ministries to overcome them.

His ultimate aim is to have a visa on arrival for tourists, but that could be years away. There are problems with the road network, which is half-paved or non-existent in some parts of the country, and airlines largely avoid Afghan airspace.

The capital Kabul has the most international flights, but no Afghan airport has direct routes with major tourist markets like China, Europe, or India.

Despite the challenges, Saeed wants Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse, an ambition that appears to be backed by the Taliban’s top leaders.

 

[k1976]

I have been sent to this department on the instructions of the elders (ministers). They must trust me because they’ve sent me to this important place.”

The students also have aspirations. The model, Ahmed Massoud Talash, wants to learn about Afghanistan’s picturesque spots for Instagram posts and its history for media appearances.

Business school graduate Samir Ahmadzai wants to open a hotel but thinks he should know more about tourism and hospitality first.

“They hear that Afghanistan is backwards, poverty and all about war,” said Ahmadzai. “We have 5,000 years of history. There should be a new page of Afghanistan.”

 

[k1976]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.s...ourism-is-on-the-rise-in-afghanistan-13087329


AMDK are flooding in to see 5000yrs history


With centuries of history, ancient archaeological sites, Islamic art and untouched landscapes, Afghanistan is attracting tourists - despite the Taliban regime and the UK government's "do not travel" warnings.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the country formed part of the overland "hippy trail" route across Asia and welcomed hundreds of thousands of Western tourists. But as its complicated modern history unfolded, the steady stream of travellers stopped.

The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Afghanistan, highlighting its "volatile" security situation and an "ongoing and high threat of terrorist attacks". But some adventurous tourists aren't letting this stop them.

Joan Torres, founder of blog and adventure travel company Against The Compass, told Sky News that he has seen a "big increase in demand" for tours of Afghanistan. In 2023, he ran three trips to the country and for 2024, this number has doubled.

"Syria and Iraq used to be our big sellers but given the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan might become our most sold-out destination soon," he said.

Untamed Borders, which specialises in trips to "some of the world's most interesting and inaccessible places", has also seen a rise in interest. It has been helping travellers visit Afghanistan since 2008.

The company's tours paused in August 2021 as the Taliban seized power and since resuming in September 2022, founder James Willcox told Sky News "quite a number of tourists" have made bookings.

 

[k1976]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ge...-to-pakistan-afghanistan-but-also-to-us-envoy

Terrorism poses danger not only to Pakistan, Afghanistan but also to US: envoy​

Pakistan
Web Desk
April 26, 2024
"It is crucial for Pakistan, US to keep collaborating through all diplomatic channels and tools,” says Masood Khan

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan is addressing a gathering in North Carolina. —Radio Pakistan/File

• Ambassador hopes for continuation of defence ties.
• Highlights rapid growth in Pakistan's tech industry.
• Masood Khan invites US scholars to explore Pakistan.

 

[k1976]

https://tolonews.com/arts-culture-187780

5,000 Foreigners Visited Afghanistan Since Political Change: Officials​

The Ministry of Information and Culture said that since the Islamic Emirate came to power, nearly 5,000 tourists from various countries have come to Afghanistan to visit ancient sites.

Emphasizing the security of tourists, Muhajir Farahi, the deputy of the Ministry of Information and Culture, said that the Islamic Emirate has facilitated tourism in the country for foreign citizens.

"Most of the tourists come to Afghanistan from foreign countries to visit ancient and historical areas," he said.

"Foreign tourists are very eager to visit Afghanistan, including possibly citizens from Britain. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has the responsibility to protect all those who are given visas and allowed to stay in Afghanistan," said Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate.
Some experts consider the arrival of tourists important for strengthening the country's economy.

"Today, the tourism industry is seen as a profitable business and a branch of the global economy. Alongside other economic values, tourists serve to increase liquidity in the country," said Abdul Zahoor Madar, an economic expert.

"The tourism industry is among the factors that help to better advance and create a kind of wealth generation for the economic system," said Iraj Faqiri, another economic expert.

This comes as previously some countries, including Britain, had advised their citizens not to travel to Afghanistan.

However, recently, some British media, quoting from travel companies in the country, have said that there is currently an increase in demand for tourist trips to Afghanistan.

 

[syed putra]

It's a desert nourished by melting ice from the mountains.