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
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
SALERNO, Italy (AP) — Verona secured a place in next year’s Serie A after beating Salernitana 2-1 on2024-05-22NE China ports handle record high China
(Xinhua) 14:44, April 02, 2024HARBIN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's ports of Manzhouli, Suif2024-05-22Can homeless people be fined for sleeping outside? A rural Oregon city asks the US Supreme Court
GRANTS PASS, Oregon (AP) — A pickleball game in this leafy Oregon community was suddenly interrupted2024-05-22- ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Jared Wright and Rieger Lorenz scored second-period goals, Matt Davis had 352024-05-22
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has added a stop in Luxembourg to a trip to Belgium in September, a three-d2024-05-22- (Xinhua) 14:59, April 08, 2024SINGAPORE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese economy has promising prosp2024-05-22
atest comment