[24/August/2010]

SANA'A, Aug. 24 (Saba)- The Tourism Promotion Council (TPC) has decided to start its promotional campaign in France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom in September.

Fatima al-Horibi, the executive director of the council, said that the campaign would include presentations of popular folk songs and dances and distribution of a large number of brochures and photographs on tourist and archaeological sites in all the provinces of Yemen.

Yemen is on the one hand known for its historic buildings in the capital Sana'a and spectacular nature but it is also one of the poorest countries in the world. Tourism provides a vital source of foreign capital for Yemen.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, 1.1 million tourists visited the country in 2009, of those 70 per cent came from the Gulf states.

Al-Horibi added that the council would launch the second stage of the campaign which is expected to include all the GCC states.

The Media Line quoted Mohamed Shaif, director of Yamanat Tours in Sana'a, as saying that the Yemeni government has made efforts to attract more tourists.

Ibrahim Al-Attab, managing director of Yemen Explorers Com in the capital, said that tourism was up, but added that he was worried not everyone could afford travel to Yemen with the economic downturn.

“The local tourism is increasing,” Al-Attab told The Media Line. “Before people only came for one day, but now they stay overnight because there are good hotels and good facilities.”

YA
Saba