Why Tourists Are Flocking to Afghanistan Now
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Date: 2025-09-28
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Comments and reviews: 20
nyls1717
I hold a masters degree in international tourism management and have conducted academic research into the tourism industry for a couple of years. I’d consider myself well-versed in this subject.
I can’t even BEGIN to explain how many things there are wrong with this video. While the staggering growth is remarkable, 12. 000 tourists on a population of 42. 6 million is next to nothing. I live in a medium sized Dutch city of about 100. 000 people and we get over 50 times as much.
There are some important nuances rhat Joseph glosses over rather nonchalantly. The most important one is that these numbers are reported by the freaking taliban, not exactly tge most trustworthy source. the UNWTO has not been able to corroborate these numbers. Joseph also keeps talking about _western_ tourists specifically, but the taliban has NOT provided a detailed breakdown of the numbers they have presented. If these numbers are real and Afghanistan actually did welcome 9. 000 tourists over 2024, I’d say that up to 90% of those are from other muslim-majority countries.
Also the sheer logistics of travelling to afghanistan are insane for westerners. As every western country has a negative/do-not-travel traveladvisory for destination afghanistan, there is not one insurance provider that will accept you. Your own government is virtually powerless to assist you when you get in trouble becaus no western country has diplomatic relations with Afghanistan at this moment. You would also need to book through a highly specialised travel agent who has contacts there, who’d have to make your arrangements by mail or long-distance phone calls because only 17% of the country has internet access. Speaking of that travel agent, they would most likely have to join you on your travels as a guide and translator. Only 6% of Afghans speak English and there are practically no translators in the country because most of them got, well, PURGED BY THE TALIBAN for aiding western militaries during the ISAF occupation, and the few that are still there are probably in hiding and parading your english skills in public probably isn’t a very good idea.
lastly, there is also a total lack of infrastructure to support a tourism industry so it’s impossible to sustain this growth. history has already proven that. I would love to go into detail more but I’ve already typed a giant wall of text. There are so many more things I want to get into because this has to be the worst take on this subject ever.
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I hold a masters degree in international tourism management and have conducted academic research into the tourism industry for a couple of years. I’d consider myself well-versed in this subject.
I can’t even BEGIN to explain how many things there are wrong with this video. While the staggering growth is remarkable, 12. 000 tourists on a population of 42. 6 million is next to nothing. I live in a medium sized Dutch city of about 100. 000 people and we get over 50 times as much.
There are some important nuances rhat Joseph glosses over rather nonchalantly. The most important one is that these numbers are reported by the freaking taliban, not exactly tge most trustworthy source. the UNWTO has not been able to corroborate these numbers. Joseph also keeps talking about _western_ tourists specifically, but the taliban has NOT provided a detailed breakdown of the numbers they have presented. If these numbers are real and Afghanistan actually did welcome 9. 000 tourists over 2024, I’d say that up to 90% of those are from other muslim-majority countries.
Also the sheer logistics of travelling to afghanistan are insane for westerners. As every western country has a negative/do-not-travel traveladvisory for destination afghanistan, there is not one insurance provider that will accept you. Your own government is virtually powerless to assist you when you get in trouble becaus no western country has diplomatic relations with Afghanistan at this moment. You would also need to book through a highly specialised travel agent who has contacts there, who’d have to make your arrangements by mail or long-distance phone calls because only 17% of the country has internet access. Speaking of that travel agent, they would most likely have to join you on your travels as a guide and translator. Only 6% of Afghans speak English and there are practically no translators in the country because most of them got, well, PURGED BY THE TALIBAN for aiding western militaries during the ISAF occupation, and the few that are still there are probably in hiding and parading your english skills in public probably isn’t a very good idea.
lastly, there is also a total lack of infrastructure to support a tourism industry so it’s impossible to sustain this growth. history has already proven that. I would love to go into detail more but I’ve already typed a giant wall of text. There are so many more things I want to get into because this has to be the worst take on this subject ever.
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mrteacher1315
The Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was not just religious iconoclasmit was also a political act of desperation and protest. At the time, the international community seemed more outraged over statues than over the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions were suffering from sanctions and isolation.
The Taliban interpreted this global silence on human sufferingespecially of Afghan childrenas hypocrisy.
Mainstream Western media rarely provides this context. Much like its coverage of Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestine, it often distorts or omits the structural causes of violence.
Since the 1920s, Palestinians have faced ongoing displacement and ethnic cleansing, largely initiated by European colonial designs and later supported by Western powers. Yet media coverage consistently dehumanizes victims while sanitizing the policies that enable such oppression.
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The Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was not just religious iconoclasmit was also a political act of desperation and protest. At the time, the international community seemed more outraged over statues than over the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions were suffering from sanctions and isolation.
The Taliban interpreted this global silence on human sufferingespecially of Afghan childrenas hypocrisy.
Mainstream Western media rarely provides this context. Much like its coverage of Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestine, it often distorts or omits the structural causes of violence.
Since the 1920s, Palestinians have faced ongoing displacement and ethnic cleansing, largely initiated by European colonial designs and later supported by Western powers. Yet media coverage consistently dehumanizes victims while sanitizing the policies that enable such oppression.
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alexfenton229
People, its NOT Western tourism. Its the millions of 'refugees' from the Taliban who are settling in Europe. Great Britain as an example, have screwed up after our involvement there and had to allow about 50, 000 in because they're all saying they were interpreters and collaborators during the war. We are being scammed, its been a grift for 20 years to say they're lives are threatened by Taliban, there is a proven racket of threat letters from Taliban, beating videos etc. it's come out this week! GB resettled Afghans fleeing death threats from Taliban are going home for holidays! THATS WHAT EXPLAINS YOUR 'TOURISM' FIGURES! WE NEED TO DEPORT THESE GRIFTERS! AND THE 85 FAMILY MEMBERS EACH ONE BRINGS!
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People, its NOT Western tourism. Its the millions of 'refugees' from the Taliban who are settling in Europe. Great Britain as an example, have screwed up after our involvement there and had to allow about 50, 000 in because they're all saying they were interpreters and collaborators during the war. We are being scammed, its been a grift for 20 years to say they're lives are threatened by Taliban, there is a proven racket of threat letters from Taliban, beating videos etc. it's come out this week! GB resettled Afghans fleeing death threats from Taliban are going home for holidays! THATS WHAT EXPLAINS YOUR 'TOURISM' FIGURES! WE NEED TO DEPORT THESE GRIFTERS! AND THE 85 FAMILY MEMBERS EACH ONE BRINGS!
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reallifelore
they extort people to force them for lower prices cause the taliban have all big guns on their belts, a women has to cover up everything or horrible things happen and men HAVE TO grow out their beard or bad things happen to them too, Afghanistan is not save by a long shot, my friend went there a few weeks back and he never felt more unsafe and one of the other guys in his group almost got raped cause he 'looked to feminien' since he couldn't grow out his beard, they also force you to go into hotels, shops, stores and restaurants that are taliban controlled.
do not go there for tourism
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they extort people to force them for lower prices cause the taliban have all big guns on their belts, a women has to cover up everything or horrible things happen and men HAVE TO grow out their beard or bad things happen to them too, Afghanistan is not save by a long shot, my friend went there a few weeks back and he never felt more unsafe and one of the other guys in his group almost got raped cause he 'looked to feminien' since he couldn't grow out his beard, they also force you to go into hotels, shops, stores and restaurants that are taliban controlled.
do not go there for tourism
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reallifelore
The whole stickh about the Budda getting destroyed is bit deceptive they finally got destroyed when
UNESCO, Japan, and even some Buddhist organizations had offered millions of dollars to restore or protect the statues.
The Taliban, at that time facing economic sanctions and international isolation, noticed that the world seemed more concerned with the statues than with starving Afghans under drought and war.
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The whole stickh about the Budda getting destroyed is bit deceptive they finally got destroyed when
UNESCO, Japan, and even some Buddhist organizations had offered millions of dollars to restore or protect the statues.
The Taliban, at that time facing economic sanctions and international isolation, noticed that the world seemed more concerned with the statues than with starving Afghans under drought and war.
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Abyss-Will
12k tourist is as far from booming as it gets.
I live in what many call a shithole country, you probably heard about it on the news after our 24th bailout in a row lol and my city alone gets that amount of tourist in a week during the low season.
Also it's quite probable that almost all of those tourists are actually pakistani people going back from london to visit their families.
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12k tourist is as far from booming as it gets.
I live in what many call a shithole country, you probably heard about it on the news after our 24th bailout in a row lol and my city alone gets that amount of tourist in a week during the low season.
Also it's quite probable that almost all of those tourists are actually pakistani people going back from london to visit their families.
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PeterrAre
'returned to power in 2021 after a shocking military offesnsive' I remember this differently, didn't the USA and other coalition forces agree long in advance to pull out after training the Afghan army and police for years Admittedly the Afghan forces caved in almost immediately and handed the country over on a plate as they could see what was coming and didn't want to get beheaded.
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'returned to power in 2021 after a shocking military offesnsive' I remember this differently, didn't the USA and other coalition forces agree long in advance to pull out after training the Afghan army and police for years Admittedly the Afghan forces caved in almost immediately and handed the country over on a plate as they could see what was coming and didn't want to get beheaded.
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Jay-mt6nu
taliban is going the north korean route of using fakeness to promote their country while hiding the fact that there country isnt much better than it was before. they banned CHESS because it had elements of gambling in it but most men play chess for mental growth. also. wasnt there a natural disaster there not too long ago and also there is chance of them going under
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taliban is going the north korean route of using fakeness to promote their country while hiding the fact that there country isnt much better than it was before. they banned CHESS because it had elements of gambling in it but most men play chess for mental growth. also. wasnt there a natural disaster there not too long ago and also there is chance of them going under
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Canadianguy-d5d
Canada (TAXPAYERS) provide FREE housing/ FREE medical/FREE tech/FREE EVERYTHING INCLUDING expense $. and what a surprise MOST MIGRANTS seeking shelter in Canada seem to be able and NOT AFRAID to head back to their home nations at least once a year with their family. tourism. sure. because the are Canadian or E. U. citizens now.
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Canada (TAXPAYERS) provide FREE housing/ FREE medical/FREE tech/FREE EVERYTHING INCLUDING expense $. and what a surprise MOST MIGRANTS seeking shelter in Canada seem to be able and NOT AFRAID to head back to their home nations at least once a year with their family. tourism. sure. because the are Canadian or E. U. citizens now.
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JanPlaysPiano
The entire statue topic is just ridiculous. Look here once was a piece of art and culture. Maybe we destroyed it because we are just a bunch of fanatic religious sand people. Star Wars sand people noises waving with AKs. But I must say the fact that these idiots have an even more extreme rebell group in their land is funny.
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The entire statue topic is just ridiculous. Look here once was a piece of art and culture. Maybe we destroyed it because we are just a bunch of fanatic religious sand people. Star Wars sand people noises waving with AKs. But I must say the fact that these idiots have an even more extreme rebell group in their land is funny.
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SecretFacts. 79
In the 1990s, the Taliban discouraged tourism through their strict policies and by allowing wealthy Gulf Arabs to poach endangered birds (like the Asian houbara) without environmental regulation, severely damaging Afghanistan's wildlife and potential for eco-tourism [11: 02].
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In the 1990s, the Taliban discouraged tourism through their strict policies and by allowing wealthy Gulf Arabs to poach endangered birds (like the Asian houbara) without environmental regulation, severely damaging Afghanistan's wildlife and potential for eco-tourism [11: 02].
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P4nPuff
Well, I am from a small city (20 000 inhabitants) on the outskirts of Czechia and we had 22 771 confirmed visitors to our tourist center in 2024. So we are talking around 80 000 visitors if I keep the estimate low. Not sure if I am particularly impressed with Afghanistan's numbers.
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Well, I am from a small city (20 000 inhabitants) on the outskirts of Czechia and we had 22 771 confirmed visitors to our tourist center in 2024. So we are talking around 80 000 visitors if I keep the estimate low. Not sure if I am particularly impressed with Afghanistan's numbers.
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Muslim. mode.
so many lies, afghan has not media and speak a diff lang then english or arabic, so western media just lie spam, for example cheeting on your married spouse and having 4 male eye witness see the act of intercouse gets you stone to death in both for men and women.
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so many lies, afghan has not media and speak a diff lang then english or arabic, so western media just lie spam, for example cheeting on your married spouse and having 4 male eye witness see the act of intercouse gets you stone to death in both for men and women.
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Thefuzzyspoons
It wasn't a shocking millitary offensive. It was a weak and pathetic leader making a full retreat before anyone could attack. Fk you for even trying g to make it sound lime the mudring pack of wild rpeist could ever fight off the US forces in any meaningful way.
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It wasn't a shocking millitary offensive. It was a weak and pathetic leader making a full retreat before anyone could attack. Fk you for even trying g to make it sound lime the mudring pack of wild rpeist could ever fight off the US forces in any meaningful way.
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nitehawk86
9000 visits. in total. of an entire year
Like did you just look at the bars on the graph and decide line goes up
9000 is nothing for a city, let alone an entire country.
Pittsburgh, not known as a tourist hub, had 10 million visitors last year.
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9000 visits. in total. of an entire year
Like did you just look at the bars on the graph and decide line goes up
9000 is nothing for a city, let alone an entire country.
Pittsburgh, not known as a tourist hub, had 10 million visitors last year.
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patrickprice249
Omg this is why Trump wants the damn airfield back. The one where we evac’ed (us) and people were hanging in the plane. Also the country we (US) just pulled the temp visas for refugees for so they could go back to be killed by Taliban. We are sick.
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Omg this is why Trump wants the damn airfield back. The one where we evac’ed (us) and people were hanging in the plane. Also the country we (US) just pulled the temp visas for refugees for so they could go back to be killed by Taliban. We are sick.
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DragonOwl2793
Use the Buddha statues for tourism to raise boatloads of money
Taliban: Nah
Destroy the Buddha statues to cry that people don’t give you money
Taliban: Ya destroy them, we totally know how to run a country! Just blame everyone else!
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Use the Buddha statues for tourism to raise boatloads of money
Taliban: Nah
Destroy the Buddha statues to cry that people don’t give you money
Taliban: Ya destroy them, we totally know how to run a country! Just blame everyone else!
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FlexibleFlyer50
Ask about the status of women. (crickets here) Ask about sharia law. (crickets here) Ask about human rights. (non-existent here. Go to Afghanistan and ask to take the Third World Stone Age Tour of all the hot spots in the country.
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Ask about the status of women. (crickets here) Ask about sharia law. (crickets here) Ask about human rights. (non-existent here. Go to Afghanistan and ask to take the Third World Stone Age Tour of all the hot spots in the country.
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ahmedlabib2361
bro, you explicitly choose to use, negative narrative about Afghanistan.
your bias was easily noticeable. these are bad for your credibility.
others have different worldview then you; it doesn't mean, they are evil and you are not.
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bro, you explicitly choose to use, negative narrative about Afghanistan.
your bias was easily noticeable. these are bad for your credibility.
others have different worldview then you; it doesn't mean, they are evil and you are not.
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wbrn9681
Who wrote this- are you actually this dense.
You define tourist as someone from a foreign country.
Yes the Taliban is still the Taliban - they invited a lot of tourists before.
They aren’t going to national parks - this is amazing
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Who wrote this- are you actually this dense.
You define tourist as someone from a foreign country.
Yes the Taliban is still the Taliban - they invited a lot of tourists before.
They aren’t going to national parks - this is amazing
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