[19/November/2009]

SANA'A, Nov. 19 (Saba) – Yemen on Thursday blamed the western media for being a helping factor for the boom of its tourism, saying the media with unconstructive reporting on some Yemen issues presents a distorted image of Yemen.

The announcement was made at the end of a regional workshop on risk management and evaluation in the tourist sector held in Sana'a.

In this regard, minister of Tourism Nabil al-Faqih said the western media excessively covers the situation in Yemen, urging the media to be helpful for Yemen to promote its tourist products.

He also urged to work together to bring solutions that can help boost tourism and face its obstacles.

Reviewing his ministry's efforts to promote Yemen's tourist products, al-Faqih praised the efforts exerted by the World and Arab Tourism Organizations helping the ministry to improve the tourist sector, stressing the need for an Arab risk management center.

For his part, director of the Risk Management at the World Tourism Organization Dark Glaser underlined Yemen's tourist and historical potentials, recommending to work together to limit risk and fear factors negatively affecting the tourism movement in Yemen.

The workshop discussed the topics of information on markets during crises, budget for a real revival, analysis of the situation of and information about market and budget, prices and tax polices, production and distribution policy, communication policy, marketing for revival and strategies and measures to limit the effects pandemics on travel and tourism.

Launching a European tourism promotion campaign in four EU states including Britain, France, Germany an Italy in October, Yemen said that non-presentation was a major obstacle to its tourism boom.

It then urged Europe to limit travel warning in Yemen, saying Yemen is an ally in the war on terror. The campaign was the second since the 2007 similar one.

FR
Saba