YEMEN TOURISM PROMOTION TO KNOCK ON EUROPE DOORS

SANA'A, Oct. 13 (Saba)- Yemen's Tourism Ministry is currently
preparing to launch a tourist promotion campaign in the important
markets of some European countries in the following weeks.

Aiming to alleviate those countries' cautions against travel to
Yemen, the campaign is planned to include meetings with several
tourist companies and representatives of European media specialized
in tourist promotion.

The Ministry has launched a dedicated mission to woo foreign
tourists to the country located at the southern corner of Arab
peninsula. Yemen's Tourism Promotion Board (YTPB) will be in London
in the coming weeks, on the first leg of its European Roadshow,
which will also eventually travel to Italy, Germany and France.

According to Travel Daily News website, Yemen's National Dance
Academy will first be stopping at London's Paddington Station for
displays of traditional dancing throughout the day of Sunday 18th
October.

"It will be an opportunity for the 70,000 travellers who pass by the
exhibition space daily to not only have a chance to win exclusive
prizes and take home Yemeni gifts, but also to learn a thing or two
about this Land of Mystery and Adventure from the information
provided on site by representatives from the YTPB", the daily
reported.

The YTPB will be hosting an engaging Evening of Discovery at the
London Millennium Mayfair Hotel on Monday 19th October. The National
Dance Academy will be making a second appearance alongside an
impressive exhibit by leading Yemeni photographers.

Apart from the entertainment, the event will also feature a Q&A
session where would-be visitors and interested persons can learn
about the various details of visiting Yemen. Also featured will be
an exhibition by acclaimed photographers from the country, and
prizes for various contests held throughout the evening.

The events will also feature offers and deals from a number of
British tours operators offering packages to Yemen. Last year,
around 9,000 British travellers visited Yemen. The Arab country
welcomed a total of over 400,000 visitors.

UK spokesman for Yemen Tourism Promotion Board, Christopher Imbsen,
has said UK visitors to Yemen would be fascinated by the range of
extraordinary experiences the country has to offer.

He adds that although Yemen is usually a choice for experienced
travellers, with many areas still being out of bounds for tourists,
regular travellers will find a lot to discover in this land of
mystery and adventure.

The event is open to journalists, travel and tourism professionals
and others with an interest in this Land of Mystery and Adventure.
YTPB's UK team will be on hand to discuss study tour and press trip
options for tour operators, travel agents and journalists.

"For the few who choose to travel to Yemen, the rewards are immense.
Our experiences of the country have shown it to be both incredibly
friendly and endlessly fascinating. From the mud brick tower houses
of Sana'a to the mountains of Haraz, Yemen is a country that
travellers will be drawn back to time and time again. And whether
you are staying in a converted palace in the deserts of Wadi
Hadramawt or camping on a pristine beach on Socotra Island, Wild
Frontiers will endeavour to show you why we believe this troubled
country still deserves the name it was given by the Romans - Arabia
Felix, lucky Arabia", Marc Leaderman of Wild Frontiers said.

Three weeks later, Yemen's biggest ever delegation will be at
London's World Travel Market on 9th November for four days of events
and meetings with leading tour operators, journalists and investors.

The YTPB is trying to do its best to change the wrong image of Yemen
in western media due to some security events and warnings against
unnecessary travel from Europe to the country.

Through such effective tourist participations, Yemen seeks to brief
foreigners, particularly Europeans, on developments in the country,
including the security side and what actions had been taken to
maintain security and stability which ensure the safety of everyone
in the country.

YA