The traditional name fits, indeed: With 404,491 registered international guests generating 3.24 million overnight stays and providing a total of 453 million US dollars in foreign exchange proceeds during an average stay of eight days, the Yemen achieved an increase in visitors of 6.61 percent in 2008.
The country on the south western tip of the Arabian Peninsula recorded significant growth in European visitors: 35,489 travelers made for an increase in arrivals of seven percent (2007: 33,079). This makes Europe the third-most important incoming market now, following the undisputed front-runner Middle East, as well as Asia, which showed negative growth in the previous year.
Europe is becoming more important
Within Europe, six countries play a significant role for tourism in Yemen, the traditional front-runner being Great Britain with 9,128 travelers (+3 percent). Thanks to an impressive growth of 115 percent, Germany was able to retrieve the second place with 5,477 visitors (2007: 2551), ahead of France (5,123, -5 percent). Other important outbound countries were Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands.
Culture & Festivals
The ministry for tourism wants to more explicitly position Yemen as a holiday destination. Backdrop: The tourism sector is one of the most important sources of income for the country, contributing a large part of the gross domestic product as provider of foreign exchange. Thus, special activities such as festivals are planned to increase domestic awareness of tourism-related opportunities, as well as attract foreign visitors.
The 4th Sana’a Summer Festival (07/17 – 08/17) is to be one such contributor in 2009. A great street festival with colorful processions of performers, artists and many more participants. They will perform traditional dances, fashion shows and more. The Al Baldah Festival in Mukalla (07/04-11, 2009), the Isaad Al Kamel Festival in Dhamar (07/26-29) and the Ibb Tourism Festival (08/04-06) will be similar attractions.
UNESCO World Heritage times four
The year 2008 brought about the perfect „cloverleaf“ – Yemen now has four locations listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites: Shibam (listed in 1986), Sana’a (1986), Zabid (1993) and Sokotra (2008).
Four times the size of Rügen with 130 kilometers in length, the island of Sokotra, located in the northwestern Indian Ocean by the inlet of the Gulf of Aden, is a treasure chest of evolution: Plants and animals found nowhere else in the world developed on the secluded island. 30 percent of its plants, 75 percent of its reptiles and 80 percent of its insects are unique to Sokotra. And not nearly all species have yet been studied.
Restored
In February 2009, extensive renovation of the 3,000-year old main temple of Sirwah, situated 40 kilometers west of Marib and once the religious center of the Saba empire, were completed. In the final stages, the six pillars by the entrance of the temple were re-erected in order to make the ruins, which date back to the 9th century B.C., more accessible to tourists. The project was led by the Yemenite Social Fund for Development and the German Archaeological Institute.
Plans for further tourism offers
More than 40 tourism-related projects have been registered and begun since early 2008, including hotels in Sana’a and Aden.
To Yemen by plane
Yemenia presently offers 32 national and international routes, five of which to Europe (London, Paris, Marseilles, Rome and Frankfurt), serviced by a fleet of nine aircraft.
There are direct flights to the capital of Sana’a two times a week (Thursdays and Saturdays) from Germany. In addition to Yemenia, Lufthansa offers weekly connections between Frankfurt and Sana’a. While Austrian Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines do not offer direct flights, there are connection flights available with partner airlines.
General information on Yemen on the Internet at www.yementourism.com. Our picture shows the old town of Sana’a.
