BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): More than 115,000 tourists visited central Bamyan province during the past six months, creating work opportunities for thousands of local residents, an official said on Monday.
Bamyan is home to historic and naturally unique tourism attractions and thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit this province every year.
Hamza Yousufi, a tourism expert at the Information and Culture Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the tourism was one of the lucrative industries in the world and generated many employment opportunities for local residents.
According to Yousufi, the first six months of the year is the most suitable time for visiting touristic attractions in Bamyan and this industry has created nearly six thousand job opportunities for the local people.
He added some residents sold their handicrafts to visitors and others provided them transport and accommodation services.
Najibullah, a resident of Kabul who arrived in Bamyan to visit touristic attractions, said the purpose of his trip was to get rid of daily chores and find peace of mind.
He said: “My two-day trip costs me about 4,000 afs and I spent this money on transport fare, food and purchasing local handicrafts.”
Mahmood, a taxi drive on the Band-i-Amir-Bamyan road, said he has been in this business since three years to meet his family’s expenses.
He charges 2,000 afs for two-way trip to Band-i-Amir and saves 1,200 afs.
Sayed Zamin, ticket seller and contractor at the Band-i-Amir gate, said 115,761 tourists visited the Band-i-Amir National Park during the first six months of this year.
“Tourism season in Bamyan usually lasts about five months and the development of the tourism industry needs much work and huge investment, we hope officials will pay more attention to this sector.”
Sayed Abdal Sajjadi, a tourism lecturer at Bamyan University said, good security, unique touristic attractions and historic sites attracted tourists to the province.
Sajjadi believes for the development of tourism industry, short-term training courses and hiring professionals to manage and promote tourism affairs are needed. “Through a scientific and dynamic strategy, this industry can prosper in Bamyan”.
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