Tourism Industry On the Wane! [Archives:2001/02/Focus]

Tawfeek al-Sharaabi
Yemen Times
It is quite certain that tourism has become a key resource leading to countries welfare. Many a country is highly aware of its importance and effectiveness in backing up its economy achieving the welfare of the societies concerned. It is more effective than oil as it has no negative consequences and outcomes left over. Some countries depend mainly on tourism as the main source of income. Through tourism the country as well as the people gains a lot. It can be safely generalized that all the individuals of a given society partake of their share of this wealth if it is utilized properly. It is a shame to say that a country like Yemen, distinguished for its great civilization deeply rooted in history, is not giving this issue its due attention.
I have had the chance to visit many cities and villages with tourists and friends, and every time I have felt a sense of pity. On all the occasions I have come to see great things admired and loved by tourists. However, all could not hide their sense of resentment of the kind of treatment they find while traveling at the checkpoints and later in the hands of soldiers who are engaged to escort them to the places they want to visit.
Bad security measures are the crucial reason that makes many tourists hate coming to Yemen despite their high esteem about the great civilization that Yemen once was. Some end their tour thanking God for being safe. Others say that they had sweet but sour memories.
A rough, rigid face is the first thing they have to encounter as they stop at the checkpoint. janneb meaning pull over is the very first sentence the soldier at the check-point articulates. Tourists, then, have to stay for hours waiting for an escort car that does nothing but intensifies their fears moving behind them or in front at a break-neck speed.
To add insult to injury, soon or all of a sudden this escort car disappears and tourists find themselves all alone. If this escort car is at all to accompany them, it reaches a specific place where it stops them and makes them wait for the other escort car that belongs to the next governorate. Thus, tourists sometimes have to wait for hours at places where there is almost nothing to see or no arrangements to protect them from the heat of the Sun. Can you believe that we spent eight hours driving from Saadah to Sanaa which would normally take three or at most four hours? The extra four hours were due to bad security measures as they forced us to wait for four hours waiting for the other escort car that belong to Amran governorate.
As a matter of fact, security men and measures working to protect tourists have proven utter failure. Those supposed to protect them and make them feel secure are the very ones who make them feel frightened. Hence, at the end of their tour, some tourists feel content to come out of this experience making up their minds not to come back again. I wonder if people in charge are at all aware of this!
Yemen is losing millions of dollars by this phenomenon and bad administration. Therefore, good administration and amicable treatment of tourists are a must to back up tourism industry in the country. Good treatment can never be achieved unless awareness promotion programs are launched to teach these shrewd and brave security men in checkpoints how to behave with tourists. The people have also to understand that tourism is good for them and that they get a lot out of it. Car drivers, antiquities sellers, restaurant owners, hotel owners etc. all are benefiting from tourists. An independent security made for the very purpose can be a good and effective alternative. Escort cars are to stop at places where public facilities are available and not in almost deserted places. The security authorities continuous negligence to such important little things cost Yemen and its people a lot. Besides, security men at checkpoints take it as a precedent to carry on with their unprincipled manners. Escorts cars and soldiers asking for money every now and then is a low practice that should be stopped right away if we want to reflect a good picture of our beloved country.
This might all vaporize in thin air, unless the authorities concerned take serious note of it. It is our duty to expose such foibles and pin hopes on the high officials to take this on board to save a deteriorating tourism industry in our country. The point is Is anybody listening to me?

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