Afghanistan's Taliban woos foreign tourists
Time:2024-05-21 17:17:35 Source:travelViews(143)
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.
Previous:Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
You may also like
- What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
- Solar eclipse sweeps across North America. The moment of totality, in photos
- A Moroccan town protests water management plans
- European satellite falls out of orbit, breaks over Pacific
- College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
- Maggie Rogers on 'Don't Forget Me,' the album she wrote for a Sunday drive
- UN climate chief says humans have 2 years left 'to save the world'
- Big banks warn of uncertain year ahead after mixed financial performances in the first quarter
- California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind