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Tourism in Afghanistan

Tourism in Afghanistan is regulated by the Ministry of Information and Culture. There are at least 350 tourism companies operating in Afghanistan.[1] Tourism was at its peak before the 1978 Saur Revolution, which was followed by the decades of warfare.[2] Between 2013 and 2016, Afghan embassies issued between 15,000 and 20,000 tourist visas annually.[3][4] Following Taliban's return to power in August 2021, visitor numbers gradually increased from 691 in 2021 to 2,300 in 2022, reaching 7,000 in 2023.[5]

Some popular landscapes of Afghanistan, from left to right: 1. Band-e Amir National Park; 2. Salang Pass in Parwan Province; 3. Korangal Valley in Kunar Province; and 4. Kajaki Dam in the valley of Helmand Province
Foreign tourists in Kabul, c. 1940

Afghanistan has four international airports, which include Kabul International Airport, Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport, the Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport in Kandahar, and Herat International Airport. It also has a number of smaller domestic airports such as Bamyan Airport, Bost Airport, Chaghcharan Airport, Farah Airport, Fayzabad Airport, Ghazni Airport, Jalalabad Airport, Khost Airport, Kunduz Airport, Maymana Airport, Nili Airport, Tarinkot Airport, and Zaranj Airport.

Guest houses and hotels are found in every city of Afghanistan. Some of the major hotels in Kabul are the Serena Hotel, the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul, and the Safi Landmark Hotel. Most places in the country serve traditional Afghan cuisine.

Badakhshan

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Further information: Badakhshan Province
 
Badakhshan Province

Fayzabad, the capital and largest city of Badakhshan Province, has several hotels and tourist attractions. The Fayzabad Airport serves the population of the entire province. There is also a road network from Fayzabad to other districts. Tourists can book a hotel in the city and then drive from there to Ishkashim, which is a border town next to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. They can then drive to the Wakhan National Park in Wakhan District to as far as Baza'i Gonbad or the Wakhjir Pass (Afghanistan–China border).[6][7][8] Wakhan is one of the most coldest and isolated districts of Afghanistan.[9]

Balkh

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Further information: Balkh Province

The Shrine of Ali is located in the center of Mazar-i-Sharif from there many people visit the border town of Hairatan, which sits next to the Amu River near the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan border.[10] The ancient town of Balkh is located about 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Mazar-i-Sharif.[11]

Bamyan

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Further information: Bamyan Province
 
Band-e Amir National Park in the Bamyan Province of Afghanistan

The Band-e Amir National Park is located in the Bamyan Province of Afghanistan.[12] There are several modern hotels in Bamyan, which is the capital of the province.[13] The site of the Buddhas of Bamyan is also located in this province.[14] Some people visit Bamyan in the winter for skiing purposes.[15] Below are some notable tourist sites in Bamyan Province:

Ghazni

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Further information: Ghazni Province

A number of mausoleums of Ghaznavid rulers are located in and around the ancient city of Ghazni. Below are some notable sites for travelers to visit in Ghazni Province:

Herat

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Further information: Herat Province
 
Herat Citadel in Herat, Afghanistan

Herat, which is the capital of Herat Province, is an ancient city that has many historical sites for visitors to see.[16][17] Below are some notable tourist sites in Herat Province:

Kabul

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Further information: Kabul Province
 
Inside the Kabul Serena Hotel

Kabul has many hotels, guest houses and tourist attractions.[19] The Kabul International Airport has an international terminal and a domestic terminal. There is also a bus terminal that provides coach (bus) service to other provinces of the country.[20]

The Ghazi Stadium often hosts football matches. Next to the stadium is an indoor skating ground called Skateistan. There are two bowling alleys, one is named Bravo Bowling and Cafe while the other is named Striker Bowling. There are also two indoor water parks, and several snooker and billiards clubs in different parts of the city. Below are some notable sites for travelers to visit in Kabul Province:

Abdul Rahman Mosque

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Main article: Abdul Rahman Mosque

The Abdul Rahman Mosque, which was completed in late 2009 and officially inaugurated in July 2012, is one of the largest mosques in Kabul. It is adjacent to the Zarnegar Park in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of the city, not far from the Kabul Serena Hotel.

Bagh-e Babur

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Gardens of Babur
Main article: Gardens of Babur

The Gardens of Babur is a historic park in Kabul. It is the resting-place of Babur, the first emperor of the Mughal Empire. The gardens are thought to have been developed in the 16th century when Babur gave orders for the construction of an avenue garden in the city, described in some detail in his memoirs, the Baburnama.[21]

Bagh-e Bala

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Main article: Bagh-e Bala Palace

Bala Hissar

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Main article: Bala Hissar, Kabul

The Bala Hissar is a fortress believed to be built over 1,500 years ago. It was last destroyed by the British in the 19th century and was then abandoned. It is being restored.[22]

Chihil Sutun

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Main article: Chihil Sutun

The Chihil Sutun Palace was built in the late 19th century for Habibullah Khan, who was Prince at the time. It was later used primarily as a guest house for diplomats and important figures such as U.S. President Eisenhower and Nikita Khrushchev of the USSR.

Darul Aman Palace

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The Darul Aman Palace (King's Palace) was built for King Amanullah Khan. It sits directly across from the parliament building in the southern section of the city.

Eid Gah Mosque

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Main article: Id Gah Mosque

The Id Gah Mosque is one of the oldest and largest mosques in Kabul. Its historical importance has been that of Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, where top officials and the city's wealthy people would perform Eid prayers.

Habibullah Zazai Park

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Habibullah Zazai Park is the largest amusement park located in and around Ahmad Shah Baba Mina, which is in the far eastern part of Kabul. The park sits on a hillside and provides large walking space with beautiful views of the city.[23] Another such park is called the City Park, which is much smaller and located near Kabul Zoo.

Kabul Zoo

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Main article: Kabul Zoo

Kabul Zoo has around 280 animals, which includes 45 species of birds and mammals and 36 species of fish.[24] Among the animals there are two lions and a khanzir (pig), which is extremely rare in Afghanistan.[25] As many as 5,000 people visit the zoo during the weekends.[26]

National Museum of Afghanistan

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Main article: National Museum of Afghanistan

The National Museum of Afghanistan sits next to the Darul Aman Palace in the southeastern section of the city. The museum's collection had earlier been one of the most important in Central Asia,[27] with over 100,000 items dating back several millennia. With the start of the civil war in 1992, the museum was looted numerous times resulting in a loss of 70% of the 100,000 objects on display.[28] Since 2007, a number of international organizations have helped to recover over 8,000 artifacts, the most recent being a limestone sculpture from Germany.[29] Approximately 843 artifacts were returned by the United Kingdom in 2012, including the famous 1st Century Bagram Ivories.[30]

Paghman

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The Qargha picnic area is between Kabul and Paghman
Further information: Paghman and Qargha Reservoir

Paghman has been used historically as a summer retreat. Most people go there for backpacking (hiking) and see large European style mansions and other structures, including the Paghman Citadel which was recently built. It is located northwest of Kabul. The Qargha picnic area is located on the way to Paghman. The area is being developed by the government to attract more visitors. There are a number of places to eat and relax.

Sakhi Shrine

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Main article: Sakhi Shrine

Shah wa Arus Dam

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Main article: Shah wa Arus Dam

Tajbeg Palace

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Main article: Tajbeg Palace

The Tajbeg Palace (Queen's Palace) was built in the 1920's by King Amanullah Khan for Queen Soraya. It is located near the Darul Aman Palace. One of its purposes was for women of Afghanistan to address their issues with the Queen. Another was for women only parties to take place there. Afghanistan has always been a very conservative country where men and women do not sit or party together.

Kandahar

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Further information: Kandahar Province
 
The shrine of Baba Wali next to the Arghandab River in Kandahar

Visiting Kandahar Province has long been avoided by foreign tourists due to insecurity. Despite that, a number of foreigners have visited the province in recent years.[31] Aino Mina, which is located in the northeast of Kandahar, has a number of large mosques, parks, hotels, places to shop and eat, sports facilities, etc. There is also a bus terminal in Aino Mina.[32] Another is located in the western end of Kandahar.[33] Below are some notable sites for travelers to visit in Kandahar Province:

Nangarhar

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Further information: Nangarhar Province
 
Kabul River near Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province

Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province, has a number of hotels and tourist attractions. Below are some notable sites for travelers to visit in Nangarhar Province:

Nimruz

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Further information: Nimruz Province

Below are some notable sites for travelers to visit in Nimruz Province:

Panjshir

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Further information: Panjshir Province

Below are some notable sites for travelers to visit in Panjshir Province:

Culture and security issues

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Further information: Culture of Afghanistan and crime in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is an Islamic country where alcohol and drugs are prohibited. In Islam, a tourist or a traveler is called a musafir. Such person is generally treated as a diplomat and well protected under Afghan culture. Every mosque is a place of ultimate protection against those wanting to cause harm. Although Afghans are generally very friendly to tourists or travelers, kidnapping for ransom still exists in the country.[34][35] Several foreign tourists have been kidnapped and killed in Afghanistan in the past.[36] Finding an honest and reliable tour guide is the key to safety in Afghanistan.

In June 2022, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that "anyone" can visit Afghanistan for tourism,[37] and the Ministry of Information and Culture started promoting it while claiming that Afghanistan is now safe.[38] This, however, does not mean that unexploded ordnances or land mines no longer exist because they likely still do.[39][40][41]

Stamps

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Below is a series of old post stamps of Afghanistan from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s that promote tourism in the country.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "350 new tourism companies granted license last year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  2. ^ Williams, Jessie (9 February 2022). "What now for Afghanistan's tour guides?". The Times. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  3. ^ Navid Ahmad Barakzai, ed. (September 27, 2016). "20,000 foreign tourists visit Afghanistan annually". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  4. ^ Nordland, Rod (12 January 2013). "Despite Taliban Threat, Afghanistan Manages to Entice Some Tourists". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ^ Akbarzai, Sahar (2024-08-22). "The Taliban says it wants tourists in Afghanistan. Here's what it's like to visit right now". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  6. ^ "A new road to an inaccessible land". United Kingdom: BBC. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  7. ^ "Set in concrete: In a first, Kabul builds $5m road via tough terrain to access China". Saudi Arabia: Arab News. May 23, 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  8. ^ "In Photos: Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan". Nicole L. Smoot. United States. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  9. ^ د بدخشان ولایت واخان ولسوالۍ ته سفر او د هغه ځای د اوسېدونکو د مشکلاتو اورېدل on YouTube (Radio Television Afghanistan, Jan. 4, 2023)
  10. ^ "Balkh: Tourists flocking to Hairatanborder town". Pajhwok Afghan News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  11. ^ "Teetering on Crumbling Walls + Hash with a Baba in Ancient Bactria". Nicole L. Smoot. January 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  12. ^ "The Lunar Landscapes & Lapis Lazuli Lakes Of Band e Amir, Afghanistan". Nicole L. Smoot. January 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  13. ^ Bamyan's interesting hotels in the Bamyan TV special report on YouTube, Nov. 22, 2018, Bamyam TV.
  14. ^ "Tourism Increasing in Bamiyan". TOLOnews. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  15. ^ Afghan youth started ski camps in Bamiyan on YouTube, Jan. 14, 2019, VOA Dari.
  16. ^ "Officials:6,500 Foreign Tourists Visited Ikhtyaruddin Castle in 6 Months". TOLOnews. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  17. ^ "Herat Traveel Guide + Photos". Nicole L. Smoot. July 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  18. ^ Vlogs Afghanistan: Takht-e-Safar Tour of Herat City on YouTube
  19. ^ "Things I Never Wrote When It Was Applicable: Kicking It In Kabul, Afghanistan". Nicole L. Smoot. June 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  20. ^ Special Report from the Paitakht Terminal on YouTube
  21. ^ "Babur's Gardens".
  22. ^ World Snapshots: Afghanistan - Kabul - Bala Hissar on YouTube
  23. ^ Kabul Municipality on YouTube (April 20, 2021)
  24. ^ Kumar, Ruchi (October 12, 2016). "Beasts of a Nation: Rebuilding the Kabul Zoo in a Time of War". Pacific Standard. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  25. ^ "Afghanistan's only pig quarantined in flu fear". Reuters. May 5, 2009. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  26. ^ "Kabul Zoo Visitors Grow, say Officials". TOLOnews. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  27. ^ Girardet, Edward; Jonathan Walter, eds. (1998). Afghanistan. Geneva: CROSSLINES Communications, Ltd. p. 291.
  28. ^ Lawson, Alastair (1 March 2011). "Afghan gold: How the country's heritage was saved". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  29. ^ "Germany returns Afghan sculpture". BBC News. 31 January 2012.
  30. ^ "Looted art returned to Afghanistan". BBC News. 19 July 2012.
  31. ^ "Kandahar in Photos & Travel Guide". Nicole L. Smoot. August 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  32. ^ Kabul bus station & Terminal Kandahar 9/8/2022 on YouTube
  33. ^ Herat bus station & terminal Kandahar 08 September 2022 on YouTube
  34. ^ "Businessman Rescued from Kidnappers in Kabul: MoI". TOLOnews. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  35. ^ "'MoI investigates ID cards recovered from deceased kidnappers'". Pajhwok Afghan News. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  36. ^ Foreign Nationals Kidnapped and Killed in Kabul. TOLOnews. August 2, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  37. ^ Stancati, Margherita (20 June 2022). "Taliban Release Five Britons, Resolving Dispute With U.K." The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  38. ^ Steinmetz, Juergen T. (2022-06-06). "International Tourism is back in a new and safe Afghanistan". eTurboNews | eTN. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  39. ^ "How isolating the Afghan Taliban could mean more young landmine victims". Reuters. July 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  40. ^ "Afghanistan's Land Mines: A Legacy Of War". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. July 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  41. ^ "Clearing Afghanistan's Landmines One Careful Step at a Time". Voice of America. November 21, 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Afghanistan.
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