[31/October/2009]

By: Mohammad Assayghi
Translated by: Mahmoud Assamiee

FRANKFURT, Oct.31 (Saba)- European tourists expressed their great desire to visit Yemen and inspect its customs and variable tourist products. Some say they will think to visit Yemen to know its history and civilization mentioned in divine and historical books.

However, European citizens Saba has interviewed in this report reflected contradicting views over traveling to Yemen and spending annual vacation. The majority of them supported the idea of traveling to Yemen and some of them who did not visit the country before said visiting Yemen is important to know important part of world customs and culture.

Some other saw the idea as a risk with calculated results and demanded penalties to deter criminals to stop their crimes and considering them as a threat to safety and security of the whole region and affect economy and culture.

" I really want to visit Yemen with many of my friends. We have already talked about this but British office of interior bans visiting Yemen," said British citizen Jack Gelery.

But Marsilia Gerlakh, German citizen, says "Yemen is a beautiful and wonderful country needs more efforts for reforming security and diplomatic system," she said indicating that many countries in the world, among them Germany have special sections in German diplomatic offices for promoting tourism in the country.

Virginia Paul, Italian journalist who visited Yemen several times sees Yemen as interesting country with variable tourist product has important position in International Tourist Map. The most important thing, she adds, is Yemen unique tourist product on regional level has improved through thousands of year.

She says:" Yemen has many cities, villages and important islands like Suqutra, the real gem and if it is invested better, it would be one of the most significant centers Yemeni society depends in tourism. The island has attractive nature. There are also Bura'a and Utma natural protectorates which do not receive local concern."

Meanwhile, Rafa Mazina says:" Yemen is important tourist face and no one can ignore that and Yemeni tourism has been improved on the long run. Yemen's unity has great role in improving tourism due to openness policy adopted by the government."

She affirmed that Yemen only lacks security investigation and activating security apparatus, in addition doubling efforts for promotion to tourism in the country.

Rafa, from Austria and a researcher in Islamic affairs, affirmed keenness on visiting Yemen. "According to my knowledge, I think this country is not given its right concerning media campaigns but I think there is no diplomatic role to cure its problems. Further, tourist media in Yemen is still unable to shoulder its responsibilities towards tourism and its future issues. So I think this needs army of journalists."

Leona, British physician from Yemeni origin, says she is interested in visiting Yemen to know whether she still has relatives and enjoying taking photos to Yemen charming sites she knows from brochures on Yemen.

Jarkas Naibal, Greek, showed astonishment when he watched the photos in Yemen's show." Whatever the conditions are, I must visit Yemen to see these beautiful villages," he said.

Victoria Remax, French, showed admiration of Yemen and good nature of Yemenis she sensed when she was welcomed by the delegation participating in the promotion campaign to Yemen. This admiration made her visit the show the next day.


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