Despite stark warnings from countries to their citizens and ongoing humanitarian crises, a growing number of tourists are venturing back into Afghanistan, according to a Financial Times report.
The country was plunged into chaos in 2021 when the Taliban seized control, leading to the hasty evacuation of thousands of Afghans and expatriates. But a newly established tour operator, Safarāt, the FT says, is due to host its first group trip to Kabul on May 6, with Untamed Borders, another travel agency, flying in another group to undertake a similar route in reverse.
Most western countries warn their citizens against traveling to Afghanistan due a high risk of kidnapping or violence. Nonetheless, the operators argue that the country is safer now that western forces have withdrawn.
“The minute they gained control of the country, security rapidly improved,” Safarāt founder, Joe Sheffer, tells the FT. “We are helping to make the country liveable,” he adds, acknowledging that some might view his company’s actions as supporting the Taliban.
However, critics argue that tourism in Afghanistan is insensitive and risks legitimising a repressive regime. Arash Azizzada, co-director for Afghans for a Better Tomorrow, a community organisation, says: “Travelling to Afghanistan is a deeply complex endeavour and often reeks of atrocity porn.” Meanwhile, the UN says the country is facing a humanitarian crisis and warns it may have to leave if the Taliban does not lift a ban on women working for the organisation.
Nonetheless, according to the FT, getting to Afghanistan is straightforward with direct flights from Dubai, Islamabad, and Istanbul. Visas can be issued within 24 hours, and tour operators say female western tourists can travel freely while wearing a headscarf and loose-fitting clothes. While the diktat that women must have a male chaperone has no practical impact on tour groups that always travel together, Azizzada criticises western social media influencers who post “extreme tourism” videos with titles such as “I went shooting with the Taliban”.
Afghanistan was a highlight of the hippie trail prior to the Soviet invasion, and some tour operators relaunched trips in 2002 following the ousting of the Taliban.
Currently, the Taliban is holding a number of western citizens captive, including the Afghanistan born French journalist, Mortaza Behboudi and three British citizens.
