NEW YEMEN VISA SYSTEM CAN'T AFFECT TOURISM, LEAD TO LAYOFFS

SANA'A, Jan. 31 (Saba) - The new entry visa Yemen has recently
adopted amid crackdown on al Qaeda does not affect tourism nor do
other steps taken by the government to deal with the tourism blow,
Tourism Minister Nabil al Faqih has said.

Those who must get entry visas through Yemeni embassies abroad are
European and nationals from some industrialized countries, al Faqih
told al Sharq al Awsat during a telephone interview.

The interpretation of the measure presented to the world was not as
it really appears, he said, assuring all steps taken by the
government can't affect tourism and never will lead to layoffs.

Yemen tourism has been stricken by terror-related issues but the
government is working hard to deal with the matter, he said.

About 50 percent of tourism growth targets have not been achieved,
and with the blow the unemployment rate is aggravated and negatively
affecting national economy, concluded al Faqih.

FR