ISIS attack in Bamiyan raises fears for Afghanistan's tourism industry

KABUL -- An attack on foreign tourists in Bamiyan province claimed by the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) has cast a dark shadow over the country's fragile tourism industry.

The May 17 attack in Bamiyan city killed three Spanish tourists and three Afghan nationals and injured four other foreign tourists.

Several countries, including Lithuania and Russia, urged citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan after the attack.

Sayed Ashraf Sadaat, a civil society activist based in Herat, considers the attack a deliberate attempt by ISIS to cripple Afghanistan's tourism sector.

"This is a severe blow to the trust of foreign tourists in Afghanistan's security," he told Salaam Times.

"For the past two decades, Bamiyan has been known as one of the country's most secure and safest provinces, attracting many visitors. However, the recent attack demonstrates that ISIS aims to destabilize even the safest areas," Sadaat added.

"This attack aimed to show the world Afghanistan is unsafe," he said.

While tourism's economic impact is currently minimal, "with trust and increased tourist numbers, it could become a significant source of income for the Afghan population," Sadaat said.

The number of foreign tourists in Herat has decreased by up to 80% since the attack, according to Mohammad Faisal, director of a travel agency that helps foreign tourists visit Afghanistan.

"Foreign tourists are concerned about their safety," he told Salaam Times.

"In the past, we registered 10-20 foreign tourists per week, but in the week following the Bamiyan attack, only four tourists have come to us," he said.

Spreading fear

With the latest assault, ISIS is trying to create fear and terror among both the Afghan people and foreigners, local residents say.

Bamiyan is safer for foreign tourists than any other place in Afghanistan, said Faiq Amiri, a 27-year-old Herat resident.

"The ISIS attack on foreign civilians in Bamiyan was inhumane and brutal," he said. "The recent attack shows that ISIS wants to destroy Afghanistan's cultural and tourist value."

"ISIS is the clear enemy of our country ... if this terrorist group is eliminated from Afghanistan, the country will become a safe place for foreign tourists," Amiri added.

"By attacking foreign tourists, ISIS has caused terror among the public," said Mohammad Nabi Azizi, 52, another Herat resident. "This terrorist group tries to disrupt security and spill the blood of innocent people."