Afghanistan Peace CampaignResidents of Band-e Amir said that they earn most of their family’s living expenses by providing services to tourists in this park.
Safiullah Raed, the head of Information and Culture in Bamyan, said that more than 150,000 tourists have traveled to Bamyan since the beginning of the current solar year.
Raed added that 3,000 of these tourists, including foreigners, have visited the historical sites of this province, while the others visited the natural sights.
The head of Information and Culture in Bamyan said, “Since the beginning of the year, 150,000 tourists have visited Bamyan’s natural sites, and an additional 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, have visited Bamyan’s historical sites.”
Tourists are pleased with the security along the routes to Bamyan and urge the caretaker government to not only provide more facilities but also to reconstruct the Bamyan-Band-e Amir road.
“No one faces any problems along the Bamyan routes. Everyone enjoys the hospitality and friendliness, as well as the natural attractions of Bamyan,” Fawad Majboor, a resident of Kabul, told TOLOnews.
“Everything is good. Only the Band-e Amir road is damaged and needs to be repaired,” said Hezbollah, a resident of Ghazni.
Around Band-e Amir National Park, dozens of people earn their livelihoods daily from small investments they have made there. They say the ban on women visiting Band-e Amir National Park has negatively affected their business.
“If families [women] are not allowed, the number of tourists will decrease, which will cause a decline in our business,” said Mohammad Ali, a shopkeeper in Band-e Amir.
Alongside other natural attractions in Bamyan, Band-e Amir National Park, with its seven large and small natural lakes, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the spring and summer.
Residents of Band-e Amir said that they earn most of their family’s living expenses by providing services to tourists in this park.