Taliban Claims 24,000 Foreign Tourists Have Visited Afghanistan in the Past Four Years

Kokcha News Agency: Habib Ghafran, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, stated that approximately 24,000 foreign tourists have visited Afghanistan since the group regained control of the country in August 2021. He added that efforts are underway to facilitate tourism in Afghanistan, including the construction of new hotels and improved services for visitors.

Speaking on Saturday, August 9, on the Taliban-controlled national television, Ghafran claimed that security and freedom have been established in Afghanistan, allowing the tourism industry to grow. He also mentioned that four hotels were built last year in various regions to accommodate tourists, and four more are planned for construction this year.

The Ministry of Information and Culture has reportedly collaborated with the private sector to provide services such as visa extensions, translation services, transportation, and “necessary guidance to familiarize tourists with Afghan culture” and how to travel to different parts of the country.

The Taliban view tourism as a source of income and a way to revive Afghanistan’s struggling economy. The group is working to attract more foreign tourists by facilitating visa issuance and establishing direct flights to the country.

Earlier, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Administration at the Ministry of Information and Culture highlighted the growth of the tourism industry, stating that it brings not only economic benefits but also political and symbolic gains for the Taliban.

However, the Taliban’s collaboration with certain foreign tourists has sparked controversy in recent months. For example, the visit of a foreign porn star to Afghanistan and images of Chinese women posing with armed Taliban fighters on social media drew widespread criticism.

Critics argue that while Afghan women are deprived of basic human rights, foreign tourists are participating in the Taliban’s propaganda campaign to normalize the group’s oppressive regime.