Tourism culture [Archives:2007/1074/Opinion]

Mohammed Al-Ariqi
When the Ministry of Tourism organized a workshop a few days ago, during which participants reviewed findings of a survey on obstacles facing the local tourism in Yemen, I commented that the very low income of the Yemeni citizen is not the primary obstacle to the country's local tourism. I suggested that there are many other obstacles, specifically the social obstacle that is related with the lack of awareness and culture about tourism promotion. In addition, citizens seem to have no interest in contemplating on and enjoying beauty of the natural scenes, nor do they care about searching for the historic sites and ancient civilization ruins scattered in different parts of the country.

The one having the desire to holiday with his family members in any of the near or far historic sites will find himself/herself alone while other people graze at him/her as if he/she is breaking the norms and traditions of the Yemeni society.

One of the workshop participants, who got irritated by my comments that downsized the individual income-related obstacle to tourism development, approached me after the workshop and said, “How do you say that the low income of Yemeni citizens is not one of the primary obstacles posed to local tourism.” He went on to say that “My salary is only YR 30,000 per month and I am taking a house on lease and have seven children. How do you talk about tourism while the government employees suffer poor living standards and their incomes cannot cover their basic necessities and daily expenses?

My answer to his question was: “My friend! We are talking about obstacles posed to tourism in general. And, those whose economic conditions cannot enable them move from one place to another for hiking and tourism don't think about the subject. We are debating over awareness about tourism, which hasn't been spread among people inside the Yemeni society.”

I provided clear evident that people of high incomes never think of hiking and holidaying in the historic sites and fascinating scenes. Even my friend who criticized my remarks if his income is improved enabling him to have surplus money, global tourism will not be included in his annual program. All he will do is buying a good quality qat and his qat budget will be YR 2,000 per day instead of YR 500 during the days of low income. He will be living in a better place. He will think about buying a luxurious car and other non-essential things.

I felt sorry when I heard my friend's comments. I thought that I might inflamed his feelings and his difficult economic conditions and poor living standards, as it the case of the majority of Yemen's population. I then went to another friend whose monthly income exceeds YR 300 thousand and is considered one of the educated people and asked him, “Do you organize a tourist program for you and your family, even once per year?” His response was: 'Believe me or not, I don't even visit the park, which is in the vicinity of my house. The problem is that we are not aware about the importance of tourism, nor are we interested in visiting any tourist sites. At this point, I totally agree with Minister of Culture Nabeel Al-Faqi that his ministry needs to work on enhancing and spreading the tourist culture.

Source: Al-Thawra State-run Daily
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