Afghanistan's Taliban woos foreign tourists
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.
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.
Related articles
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Target plans to cut prices on thousands of consumer basics this summer, from diapers to milk, as inf2024-05-2112 students and teacher killed at Columbine to be remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
DENVER (AP) — The 12 students and one teacher killed in the Columbine High School shooting will be r2024-05-21Virginia fathers narrowly avoid being crushed while sitting by backyard fire pit
A pair of Virginia dads had a narrow escape when a tree came crashing down on their backyard firepit2024-05-21Netanyahu says Hamas No. 4 killed
JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement2024-05-21Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanam2024-05-214/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana's high holiday
SEATTLE (AP) — Saturday marks marijuana culture’s high holiday, 4/20, when college students gather —2024-05-21
atest comment