Best News Website or Mobile Service WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2022 Best News Website or Mobile Service Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2022 KABUL: An attack claimed by the Islamic State group which killed foreign tourists visiting a market in central Afghanistan has also dealt a blow to the country's nascent tourism sector. "If there is another attack in the next few weeks or months, Afghanistan's tourism industry will be over," said Joe Sheffer, founder of the Safarat tourism agency, which specialises in tours to the country. He spoke to AFP after the attack by one or more gunmen on Friday that killed six people in central Bamiyan province, including three Spanish tourists.
Another four foreigners in the tourist group were wounded. The Islamic State group on Sunday claimed the assault on the group of 13 travellers with a Spanish tour agency, believed to be the first against foreign tourists since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The Taliban authorities have touted improved security in Afghanistan ever since their takeover in 2021 ended their insurgency against foreign-backed government forces.
KNOWING THE RISKS Bamiyan province, with its giant Buddhas dynamited in 2001 under the Taliban's first rule and turquoise lakes at Band-e Amir, is the country's leading tourist destination. Sheffer said a couple of customers had already cancelled their trip and the company was reviewing its operations in Afghanistan. "We will reduce group sizes .
.. We are cancelling .