Visiting Afghanistan

They're going to rebuild the Buddhas of Jam. What a wonderful idea :)

KABUL, May 12 (Bernama) -- The government of Afghanistan is going to revive the lucrative tourism industry in the war-torn country, Director of Tourism Department Syed Zamanudin Baha said on Tuesday.

"Efforts are going on to revitalize the industry of tourism in Afghanistan and in this regard the rebuilding process old castles, historic places and preserving archeological sites have begun," Baha told China's Xinhua news agency.

The government, he added, would build national parks, hotels and all facilities which are necessary to boost tourism industry in the financially-battered nation.

Rebuilding the couple giant Buddhas is also on the agenda of the government to attract more tourists in the country, the official further said.

Taliban militants had dynamited the giant status during their fanatic reign in the central Bamyan province in March 2001.

However, like other national institutions, the three decades of war and civil strife had badly damaged the tourism industry in poor Asian state.

To welcome tourists, the official added that the government with the support of private sectors had built more than 80 hotels and guest houses across the country.

Some 10,000 visas, Baha added, had been issued to foreign tourists from several countries last year.

However, he failed to say the annual income of Afghanistan through tourism industry but added millions of Afghanis would be earned yearly.

To support tourism industry in the country the government issues visa at a cost of 500 Afghanis within one hour, Director of Tourism Department stressed.

-- BERNAMA