Terrorism hammers Yemen tourism

SANA'A, June 17 (Saba) -Yemen is experiencing a big drop in tourism
revenues amid stepped up terrorist acts hammering visitor influx
into the country.

Visitors from Europe and Eastern Asia have been warned against
flying into Yemen, measures taken by the governments there because
most victims of terrorist attacks in the country have come from
these parts of the world.

Tourism Minister Nabil al-Faqih has said that increased terrorist
attacks over the last few years including last week's kidnapping of
nine foreigners and slaying three female captives in Yemen's
northern Saada province have adversely been striking tourism, with
many airliners reducing flights to the country.

The minister's remarks come to highlight huge losses Yemeni hotels
and tourist agencies have been suffering during 2007-2009.

Yemen needs to work very hard to entice visitors back and restore
the trust of foreign tourist companies towards its tourist climate.

Terrorism has also affected employment and tourist investment
causing losses estimated at $ 60 million.

However, the minister said that the ministry is keeping the
implementation of the national tourism strategy, revealing further
tourism promotional campaigns targeting European, Asian,
specifically eastern Asia, and Arab markets.

Internally, the ministry is also doing its utmost to boost tourist
service base, al-Faqih said.

FR