Will this new strategy help Yemen out?

Introduction

Yemeni tourism is currently suffering from an assortment of social, political, economic, cultural challenges which create an unstable environment for establishing a prosperous tourism industry, said by Nabil- al- Faqih, Minister of Tourism.
The Minister of Tourism announces a new national strategy in cooperation with the national media to boost tourism flows into Yemen. There is absence of real and effective partnership amongst tourism workers and media. Because of the irresponsible role that the media plays in dealing with political and security issues, harms the fortunes of tourism in Yemen. “Media treatment of security problems has led a number of European countries to warn their nationals against visiting Yemen” said by Mr. Faqih. I personally think that the minister should organize debated that shed light on the investment and tourism activates, because of this debates it will promote the awareness of those who work in tourism and hospitality sector. The minister said that there will be courses which will be organized on tourism professionalism and tourism encouragement. Enquiries over the tourism prospects, development plans and effect of current events on development and touris were also presented by local and foreign press.

Original article by Mohammed Al-Kibsi, July 15, 2008

Essay by Preeti Kherah
Master in Tourism Destination Mangement student 2008/2009

Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen is an Arab country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the North. Yemen is not the most visited/ famous destination in the world, the reason behind that could be because of the media treatment of security problems. This destination definitely needs a new strategy to increase its number of visitors for in the future. During the press conference the Minister of Tourism Nabil- Al- Faqih said: “We came with a new strategy which aims to generate a positive culture, which supports tourism awareness to embrace the social, cultural and human tourism perspectives. He also pointed out that business in the media and tourism fields will commit themselves according to deal with tourism as a national imperative. The reason behind this new strategy could be to present a feasible media role by building a constructive partnership between media and tourism workers. It is said that the ministry’s information unit will be activated to work as a link between the ministry and the media and to organize a caravan program in cooperation with the tourist writers, for this year and the years to come to promote the professional role of this society’s members in serving Yemeni tourism. . I personally think that the minister should organize debates that shed light on the investment and tourism activates, because of this debates it will promote the awareness of those who work in tourism and hospitality sector. The minister said that there will be courses which will be organized on tourism professionalism and tourism encouragement. Enquiries over the tourism prospects, development plans and effect of current events on development and tourism were also presented by local and foreign press. Media is not the only cause of poor tourism in Yemen but even the economy, destination development and human rights are not have been taken in consideration. The government and its security forces, often considered to suffer from corruption, have been responsible for torture, inhumane treatment towards visitors. There is still discrimination and violence against women as well as on the abolition of the minimum marriage age of fifteen for woman. Censorship is actively practiced in 2005 legislation was passed requiring journalists to reveal sources under certain circumstances, and the government has raised the start- up costs for newspapers and websites significantly. The economy of Yemen fortunes depends on declining oil resources, but year by year the destination is trying to diversify its earnings. In 2006 Yemen began an economic reform program to get help of non oil sectors of the destination and foreign investment. The government entered into agreement with the International Monetary Fund ( IMF)  to implement a structural adjustment program. This Major financial and monetary reforms includes:

• Floating the currency
• Reducing the budget deficit
• Cutting subsidies

After gaining more in depth knowledge about Yemen I think that there are a few reasons why Yemen is not a booming destination. As said before the reason behind this is not only because of the media treatment of security problems but even the economy, human rights and destination development is very poor since years. Will this new strategy help Yemen out? What about the economy, human rights will they get improved because of this new strategy ? Yemen has a long way to go!