Anti-western fervour on the streets of Sanaa during the war on Iraq ensured that western tourists stay away from Yemen, a country already tainted by a history of kidnappings, suicide bombings and terror links. "I have not had a tour with a western tourist since 9/11 and it doesn't look good for a few more months given the Yemeni population's reaction to the war in Iraq," laments Ahmed, an independent tourist guide.
| Maybe, rather than running through the streets waving firearms and screaming "Death to Everybody!" you should try hula-hula girls and leis, and service with a smile, eh?... Naw. That'd never work. |
Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets in March in a series of well-policed protests to vent their anger at the US-led war against Iraq. Yemen's reputation as an off-beat tourist hotspot took a major nosedive after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States and reports that the country could be a target in a future phase of Washington's anti-terror campaign. It had already been severely dented by the suicide bombing of the US destroyer Cole in the southern port city of Aden in October 2000 that left 17 American sailors dead and by the albeit fading threat of kidnappings - 200 foreigners since 1991 - by armed tribesmen. "The hotel industry in Yemen hasn't had a particularly good time considering global developments, especially after September 11," says Rohit Khosla, general manager of the upmarket Taj Sheba hotel in downtown Sanaa. "Before those global developments, we had high levels of tourism from the European market. Lately, tourists have been a little hesitant about travelling, not just to Yemen but to the whole region."
"Margaret, I just can't decide. Where should we go on vacation this year? The Caymans or Yemen?"
"Oh, Bob! Yemen's just lovely this time of year! And the natives are so quaint with their local customs. Why, last year Aunt Harriet and Uncle Wilbur were kidnapped and held for almost six months before they were shot!" |
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