12/09/2026
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Foreign tourism in Afghanistan has been rising, even as many governments continue to warn their citizens against traveling there.
After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Afghanistan recorded just 691 foreign tourists that year.
That number climbed to about 2,300 in 2022 and roughly 7,000 in 2023.
The increase continued into 2024.
Afghan tourism officials said China had become the country's largest source of foreign visitors, with travelers also arriving from Europe and other parts of Asia.
Some came for Afghanistan's mountains, historic sites and cities such as Kabul, Herat and Bamiyan. Others were attracted by the chance to visit a country largely outside conventional international tourism.
Foreign tour companies were already running organized trips, while the Taliban government was actively trying to develop the country's tourism industry.
The risks remained serious. In May 2024, gunmen attacked foreign tourists in Bamiyan, killing three Spanish visitors and three Afghans. Islamic State later claimed responsibility.
Despite that, foreign visitors continued arriving, and Afghanistan ultimately recorded nearly 9,000 international tourists in 2024.
For some travelers, visiting such an unusual and complicated destination appears to be part of the attraction.
Credit: Parwana Ibrahimkhail Nijrabi/ X
