Travel influencers boost tourism to Taliban-run Afghanistan

Tourism & Geopolitics - Social media influencers are promoting Afghanistan as a travel destination, attracting tourists with viral videos [1] - Tourism aims to provide much-needed business to Afghanistan, but the situation differs significantly for Afghan women [2] - The UN describes the situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban as gender apartheid, particularly since the US withdrawal [3] - The Taliban government prioritizes tourism, relying on bloggers and YouTubers to promote the country [4] - Tourism revenue could help the Taliban fund its repression, despite replacing lost foreign aid [5] Socio-Political Context - The Taliban is systematically erasing women from public life, including barring them from high school and university [3] - Some perceive that the benefits of visiting Afghanistan outweigh the potential negative impacts [4]