KABUL - Vice President Sarwar Danish on Tuesday said tourism has improved in Afghanistan, calling the industry as effective for economic development and consolidation of national unity in the country.
Danish told a gathering marking ‘World’s Tourism Day’ on Tuesday here that more investment was needed in tourism field.
He said the decades-long war in the country had reduced people’s movement and trade among them besides doing away with different tribes’ culture and traditions.
However, he notified about improvement in tourism last year, saying the Ministry of Information and Culture’s findings showed as many as 221,000 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan during last 1395 solar year --- -- two times up over the 1350s.
He said more attention should be paid to tourism industry for attracting more tourists o Afghanistan for cultural exchanges and declining the negative propaganda against Afghanistan.
“Insecurity, lack of needed equipment for tourists, negligence in preserving historic heritage are some challenges being faced by the tourism industry. National policies should be devised and implemented for overcoming these issues.”
Danish said the increase in the number of tourists visiting the country contributed to national revenues and Afghanistan with its ancient civilization background would be introduced as a proud country to the world by promoting the tourism industry.
He stressed private sector’s role in development of tourism in the country, saying the private sector could take steps for attracting tourists by properly investing and establishing necessary facilities besides achieving their own interests as well.
Sayeda Muzhgan Mustafavi, MoIC’s deputy administrative and finance head, said the increasing number of tourists and enhancing national revenues were general goals of her ministry.
She said UN’s General Assembly had named 2017) as ‘the year of sustainable tourism and tool for development’ in the country.  “In case this field is improved in Afghanistan, it will play a significant role in Afghanistan’s economic development”, she concluded. (Pajhwok)