Awareness vital for tourism business: Badakhshan residents

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): In addition to economy, tourism positively impacts social, political and cultural values of a society and that’s why awareness is needed about tourism, some residents of eastern Badakhshan province say.

No proper awareness about the tourism industry has not been provided to the local community in Badakhshan, where many domestic and foreign tourists visit its myriad tourist attractions, according to local residents.

Abdul Qadir Mujadidi, a resident of the provincial capital Faizabad city, is thrilled about the increasing number of tourists visiting the province.

He said tourism could steer Badakhshan out of economic isolation and further strengthen the tourism industry and respond to the needs of domestic and international tourists.

He said he had shared the issue with tourism supporting bodies and the proposal had the backing of local officials as well.

He said Badakhshan was a safe place for tourists and Yakhsheera waterfalls in Warduj district were one of the most attractive tourism destination.

Qari Ahmad Jawed, is another resident of Faizabad, also emphasized on creating awareness about tourism among the local community and tourists at a time when many domestic tourists were flocking to tourist attractions of Badakhshan province.

In order to further strengthen the industry, he opined, booths of local handicrafts should be installed and other facilities provided to the tourists.

He urged both the government and residents to support the tourism industry in the province, protect the environment and to provide chances to people having the energy of innovation in this sector.

Coming all the way from southern Kandahar province, Samiullah and Selab admired the climate, fountains and rivers of Badakhshan and added they visited Yakhsheera waterfalls, Hakim Bai Garden in Baharak district and some other amusement locations.

They said security was good and urged tourists of foreign countries to come and visit Badakhshan province and enjoy its tourist attractions.

Sediqi Lalzad, head of Provincial Tourism Department, said Badakhshan was one of provinces that has most tourist attractions, has a lot of natural attractions, wildlife, virgin areas, historic monuments and ancient sites which have a lot of attraction.

“The security is good while thousands of domestic tourists from Helmand, Kandahar, Herat and Zabul provinces visited the natural sceneries of this province during the past week,” he said.

There are many important places in Badakhshan that have tourism attractions such as Shiva area of Arghanjkhwa district, Piamirat of Wakhan district where snow leopard, Marcopolo guzzle and snake eating goat are also found on snow covered peaks.

Areas such as Yasich Fountain of Shuhada district, Yakhcheera waterfalls, Kokcha river banks are other tourism attractions of the province, Lalzad added.

He added ten foreign tourists from the United States, Russia, Belarus, China and Holland arrived in Badakhshan and visited Pamiris people in Wakhan district, its wildlife and natural views.

aw/ma