Despite being one of the most dangerous places in the world, the beautiful Asian country attracts thousands of tourists. Afghanistan is undoubtedly the most dangerous country in the world, earning the lowest score on the World Peace Index from 2018 to 2024 despite the level of violence.
It was also named on the 2024 risk map. The map was given the highest warning level of “extreme” for security, due to levels of political violence and social unrest and violent and petty crime. However, this does not stop tourists, and numbers rise every year. In 2021, there were 691 foreign tourists. In 2022, that figure rose to 2,300. And by 2023 there were 7,000 people. According to EuroNews, this may be due to increased flight connections with hubs like Dubai and bragging rights associated with vacations at unusual destinations.
Visas are difficult and expensive to obtain by tourists. After the Taliban returned to power, many countries severed ties with Afghanistan, and none of them did not recognize them as the legitimate ruler of the country.
The capital Kabul has the most international flights, but there is no direct route to Afghan airport, which has major tourist markets such as China, Europe and India, which airlines are mostly shunning Afghan airspace. There are also problems with the road network. Road networks are half paved or missing in parts of the country.
Kabul's Tourism Director Mohammad Sayed hopes that Afghanistan will become a tourism powerhouse that is believed to be supported by top Taliban leaders.
Afghanistan wants to encourage more visitors to attract tourism and hospitality experts from the Taliban-run Institute. The 30 students differ in age, educational level and occupational experience. They are all men – Afghan women are prohibited from studying beyond the sixth grade and know nothing about the industry.
One of the students, Business School alumni, Samir Ahmajay, said, “Afghanistan hears everything about backwards, poverty, war. We have five,000 years of history. We should have a new page in Afghanistan.”
The class includes the basics of Afghan crafts and anthropology, but the informal subject is how actions interact with foreign women whose actions can clash with local customs and dict orders.
An example would be when women smoke, eat or mix in public places with men who are not involved in blood or marriage. The Taliban imposes a dress code aimed at women and requirements to have male guardians while traveling.
Not only do they eat or travel alone, but it's also making it difficult to interact with other women in public. With gyms closed to women and hair salons being banned, there are fewer places to meet outside the home.
