GARDEZ (Pajhwok): About 100,000 tourists thronged the Zazi Aryub district in southeastern Paktia province during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, officials say.
Zazi Aryub district is situated near the Durand Line and its mountains are covered with forests.
Khaliqyar Ahmadzai, Paktia's director of information and culture, told Pajhwok Afghan News: "About 100,000 people from different parts of the country visited the recreational area of Zazi Aryub district."
The number of tourists has increased compared to last year due to restoration of security on highways.
Khaliqyar said they were trying to provide necessary facilities to tourists in the area, which would help increase the number of tourists.
Tourists visiting Zazi Aryub district said they enjoyed a lot the area, but the government should increase facilities for them.
Hamidullah Ehsas, coming from Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he had never visited the area before and never thought it would be such a beautiful place in the country.
"When I first came to the Aryub region, I never thought there would be so many beautiful places in our country, but today I was very happy to see the region," he said.
He says the area attracts a lot of people, but there are no standard hotels or guesthouses to cater to the needs of tourists. So the government and the private sector need to pay attention to this, he said.
Ehsas added that if attention is paid to the Aryub region, it could become a major tourist and business hub.
Shamsullah Ludin, who came to Zazai Aryub district from Logar province, said tourism was an easy way to earn a living, but unfortunately, no attention had been paid to the sector.
He suggested that roads leading to the area should be constructed first and then tourists should be provided with accommodation facilities.
“If the government does not do this, the private sector and businessmen should come forward and must do it”, he said.
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