Herat Province, known for its hundreds of historical monuments and ancient sites, remains one of Afghanistan’s most significant destinations for both domestic and international tourists. Each year, thousands of visitors explore its cultural treasures. To mark this importance, a seven-day exhibition was held at the historic Herat Citadel — also known as the Ikhtiyaruddin Fortress — during the last week of September 2025.
Ahmadullah Muttaqi, Head of the Herat Department of Information and Culture, said that around 100 booths featuring locally made handicrafts and artworks were displayed at the event, with 50 of them dedicated to women. He explained that the purpose of organizing such exhibitions is to support local artisans by showcasing their creations, adding that these events play a vital role in promoting local culture, art, and tourism development.
The exhibition was organized with the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). Arafat Deniz, the agency’s representative, told Khate-Nakhost that such initiatives not only attract tourists but also create opportunities for artists to sell their handmade products. He added that this marks the third consecutive year that TİKA has supported Tourism Week in Herat, and the agency plans to continue assisting programs that demonstrate strong growth potential. According to Deniz, Herat could serve as a model for tourism development in Afghanistan due to its wealth of historical and cultural landmarks.
Officials from TİKA emphasized that all of their programs are carried out in coordination with government institutions and in line with the needs of Herat’s cultural and artistic community.
One of the exhibition booths showcased glass artworks created by Ghulam Sakhi, a local craftsman widely known as Khalifa Ghulam Sakhi. He operates a glassmaking workshop inside the Ikhtiyaruddin Fortress and has over 15 years of experience in the field. Sakhi noted that, despite his passion for the craft, the local market for glass products remains limited, though he hopes tourism growth will eventually improve sales.
Another artisan, Omid Niknam, specializes in traditional tile-making. In addition to his work with the Department of Information and Culture in preserving historical sites, he also runs a private workshop. Niknam explained that his facility is the only traditional tile-making workshop of its kind in Afghanistan and even within the broader region. He said that many tourists visit his workshop, with some placing custom orders for traditional tiles.
As tourism and urban development have grown in Herat, interest in constructing standard hotels has also increased to accommodate visitors. The Sadaf International Hotel is among the leading facilities in the city. Atiqullah Safi, the hotel’s manager, who had a booth at the exhibition to promote their services, said that in the past month alone, at least 70 foreign guests — from Europe, the United States, China, India, and Pakistan — had stayed at the hotel.
According to Safi, guests are offered over 20 breakfast options, along with modern amenities that meet international standards, ensuring comfort in both hot and cold weather conditions.
A separate section of the exhibition was devoted to women’s handicrafts, with 50 booths exclusively showcasing products made by female artisans. However, due to certain restrictions, interviews with the women participants were not possible.
One day after the exhibition’s opening, entry to the Ikhtiyaruddin Citadel — one of Herat’s most prominent tourist attractions — was made free for the public to encourage more visitors to attend the Tourism Week event.
Experts believe that, with its vast collection of historical monuments, Herat has the potential to become a major tourism destination in the region. However, they emphasize that achieving this goal requires continued support for artists, as well as the implementation of well-planned cultural and tourism initiatives.
