Yemen's tourism industry faces ruin

Yemen's once bustling tourism industry, estimated to be worth $900 million (Dh3.3 billion) last year, is facing a complete shutdown as travellers to the Arab country have petered out following the recent spate of bombings and kidnappings.

"That's it – 99 per cent of tourism has stopped as a result of the kidnappings," said Sanna-based tour guide Mohammad Al Hubaishi. For Yemen, where more than 40 per cent of the 23 million population live on under $2 a day and more than half the young men are out of work, the loss of revenue to an industry is a huge blow.

"We have had no clients for a year-and-a-half," said Madeleine Schaffner from France, who, together with her Yemeni husband, has been running a tour operator for the past 12 years.

Yemen's struggling economy is in need of revenues from tourism, which contributes three per cent to its annual GDP.

The country offers visitors rich historical sites, rugged mountains and pristine beaches. But a number of violent incidents have scared many off.

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