FOREIGN, TOURISM MINISTRIES HAVE ROLES TO PROMOTE TOURISM: DIPLOMAT

MILAN, Oct. 28 (Saba) - Yemen ambassador to Italy Shaya Zindani
affirmed Wednesday the importance of enhancing coordination between
the two Yemeni Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism to promote
tourism sector in the country.

On the sideline of Yemen's second tourism promotion campaign in
Europe, Zindani expressed his happiness for holding such tourist
events at a commercial and economic center in Italy.

He highlighted Yemen's tourist components need to be introduced in
the European countries through implementing such activities.

The Yemeni diplomat also noted to his country's interest in tourism
sector, pointing out it is one of the main pillars that the national
economy stands on.

Zindani wished that such efforts would continue to attract more
European tourists to Yemen in the future.

Last week, Yemen launched in Italy's city of Milan a tourism
promotion campaign that comes within the second such campaigns Yemen
has launched in Europe.

The campaign was organized by the Tourism ministry, the Tourism
Promotion Board and the Italian Interview Firm for Public Relations
and comes within this year's half-month tourism promotion in
Britain, France, Italy and Germany.

Many activities including folklore dances and artist events took
place in the Temporary Shop Hall in Milan that were attended by
chairman of the Tourism Promotion Board Ahmed al-Bail and interested
Italians.

A photo gallery of Yemen was opened at the hall including
photographs picked from around Yemen.

The campaign was launched October 18 to promote Yemen tourism
includes London, Paris, Milan and Frankfort.

The first campaign was launched in November 2007.

Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Promotion Board Alwan al-Shaibani has
urged the European states to limit warnings over travel to Yemen,
assuring them Yemen is doing its utmost to tackle all forms of
terrorism.

"Yemen is a partner in the global war against terror, hence, the
international community should support Yemen to face economic
obstacles", he said, affirming security prevails in most Yemen.

Yemen has taken all necessary measures to ensure a safe tourist
movement in it, including the establishment of a special unit to
protect tourists and another unit of tourist problem management
which was established in association with the World Tourism
Organization, adopting a program bringing the civil society to be a
government partner at Yemen's attractions, and has captured many
wanted suspects in connection with terrorist acts, he said in a news
conference held in Milan.

In addition to all this measures, Yemen has adopted an automatic
system to monitor tourist convoys, launched an extensive campaign to
disarm the public, and started essential amendments to penal laws
criminalizing kidnapping and attacking visitors, he told reporters.

Al-Shaibani also answered questions on the qualities of Yemen
tourist products, saying Yemen has distinguished tourist products
that can't be seen in other countries.

FJ/AF