58 cents for Afghans and €3.47 for foreigners... 22 years after the Taliban destroyed the two monumental Buddha statues, Bamiyan is opening its doors to tourists. Although the site, which has been placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger, became a symbol of the dangers of political radicalization, the Afghan government now wants to increase the value of a place steeped in history in order to attract visitors from all over the world.
In 2001, the Taliban declared that the 6th-century Buddhas were blasphemous under Islam. Using explosives, they destroyed them, provoking international outrage. The attack on this monument "illustrated the instrumentalization of political radicalization," according to Philippe Marquis, the director of the French Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan. Today, some Taliban leaders have changed their tune. "Bamiyan and the Buddhas in particular are of great importance to our government, just as they are to the world," said Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban's deputy culture minister, in an interview with The Washington Post on June 15.
"Enhancing the value of Bamiyan will enable [Afghanistan's new leaders] to convey a better image of the country, but above all to show that the Taliban have moved on," explained Marquis. Mawlawi Saifurrahman Mohammadi, the information and culture director for the province of Bamiyan, is particularly hopeful that the tourist appeal of the Buddhas' remains will boost the province's economy.
Encouraging investments to return
Surrounded by potato fields, Bamiyan is one of the poorest regions of a country whose economy is struggling to develop. According to Marquis, the project could prove fruitful. "Tourism within the country is already developing. Many Afghans are taking advantage of the return of security to the regions to discover their heritage. And, in the long term, Afghanistan's cultural wealth could certainly arouse international curiosity," he points out.
The government is also betting on heritage development to encourage the return of investments, which have been suspended by international sanctions. "We urge them [to come back] as government members but also as humans," Mohammadi told The Washington Post. "This is the entire world's heritage." "Afghanistan lacks resources and expertise. There is therefore a real urgency for foreign governments to take a stand on heritage protection," noted Marquis. By August 2021, when the Taliban took power, most foreign governments had halted archaeological work in the country. The tourism project around Bamiyan represents a test for the Taliban. "The site is extremely fragile. The development of a large tourist zone must therefore follow very precise, sustainable rules so as not to encourage mass tourism," added the archaeologist.
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