The right way to develop tourism in Yemen [Archives:2002/38/Culture]

AHMED AHMED AL-RABAHI
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER
Four years ago, the hot issue in Yemen was the way that local tourism operators and local tourism hotels had dropped so severely, that it was proving difficult to raise them to what they were before 1998. Now that issue came to the forefront again following the events of September 11 last year.
It is only natural that most local tours operators and local tourism hotels would want to lower their price rates to attract their business but how far are they prepared to go and how does this affect the rest of the industry?
In one infamous case towards the end of 2001 some of local tour operators offering car rental (land cruiser with driver) for 40$ per a day which is for 4 tourists.
A lot of damage has been done by dropping prices of the local tourism hotels, most of them are offering double rooms for 7$ including breakfast!
Every one has an opinion on the controversial subject of rates.
Clearly this is not the way forward, but something must be done to bring back the business that was lost after September 11.
The European tour operators have also been affected worldwide. They have lost a lot of clients after September 11 last year.
However slashing rates is not the great way to attract their business and develop tourism sector in Yemen.
Yemen has a strong potential in tourism, it will be a major part of our future business.
Yemen initial and main market comes from the European countries.
Our tourism sector is still very young, it has a real bright future, but to a large extent tourism in Yemen is in the hands of local tour operators, local tourism hotels and the tourism promotion board. They are very continuous in spending money to promote travel to Yemen in the European countries. If they don’t tell clients in their own home that there is a place to visit called Yemen they are not going to travel to Yemen, and no amount of enticing will change their minds, but the clean way to change their minds and bring a lot of tourist to Yemen, is to travel from Yemen to tour several EU countries, accompanied by Yemeni arts groups to present shows on Yemen tourist sites and a promotion of Yemen’s culture. In different EU countries the people will be astounded by the beautiful variety of the Yemeni culture and art shows and then they will be ready to travel to Yemen.
Also promotion is the great way to attract tourism and develop the tourism industry in Yemen.
Western tourists search for quality and security, and take into their account the question of costs as well when preparing for a trip. The development of the first two should be equally important in our efforts. As we develop the tourist industry we must do so with integrity. Yemen has strong potential for this main business in tourism. Yemeni promotion in Europe is a must. As I have earlier mentioned that tourism industry in Yemen is still very young but it has a bright future, depending on the serious and scientific efforts the tourist sector in Yemen would exert in this respect.

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