8 February 2011 - Bamyan is Afghanistan's famous tourist site for archeological monuments and beautiful landscape, now the local authorities hope the introduction of winter sports can draw thousands of international tourists and domestic sightseers during what was once thought to be an off-season for the remote central province.

Visitors consider Bamyan an unsuitable place for winter tourism because of its cold weather but "once they find out that Bamyan has a very suitable environment and landscapes for ski sport, they will come to Bamyan in increased numbers," said Gull Hussain, a facilitator of the ski training course and Bamyan tourism business owner.

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) started last month a three-month ski training course for 60 students from four highland villages whose countryside is most suitable for skiing.

Under its eco-tourism project, and with support from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan's Central Highlands Region, AKF contracted Italian ski player Ferdinando Rollando - who has been playing the sport professionally for the last 30 years - as the trainer for the skiing course.

Rollando said Bamyan's weather and environment are perfect for many winter sports, including cross-country skiing.

He is optimistic about his students, saying they can prove to be good ski players and, if trained well, can even represent Afghanistan in the future in international sports events.

“I like playing on the snow and I know I can learn very fast how to play ski well," said Mustafa, a fifth grader who is skiing on the hills surrounding his village for the first time.

Officials from the Bamyan Eco-Tourism Programme said students in the course will be trained to train other children to promote ski sport throughout the province.

In addition to teaching children how to ski, there are plans to train some police and members of the disaster management team, said the head of UNAMA Central Highlands Region, Heran Song.

In the long term, tourism in Bamyan could help the country move forward economically.

“Tourism is a proven driver of economic growth, jobs and development, representing a powerful weapon in eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring social stability,” Taleb Rifaithe, Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) about the development of winter tourism in Bamyan. Afghanistan has been a Member State of UNWTO since 1975.

Afghanistan was one of the principal multicultural trading posts along the ancient Silk Road and its rich history and customs constitute valuable tourism assets which could help it emerge from unrest as other countries, such as Cambodia, have done, UNWTO added.

By Jaffar Rahim, UNAMA