FOCUS ON YEMEN TTG: Who’s going to Socotra? How are they getting there?
Socotra remains open for business and is particularly popular with the expat community in the Emirates, as well as people looking for an amazing holiday or spectacular natural and cultural heritage. Leading Yemeni tour operators can offer a range of contrasting and exceptional itineraries. Large areas of Yemen are in conflict and should be avoided. The remote Socotra Archipelago, 240 miles south of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, can be reached direct from the United Arab Emirates on a choice of routes from Dubai (Yemenia) and Sharjah (Felix Airways). Known as the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’, it is an extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site, a paradise for sublime eco tourism and adventure tourism, including diving and parascending. TTG: How have you found that tourism authorities are envisioning the future of their destination? Yemen is considered the ancestral home of all Arabs and is full of
NATURE'S JEWEL
extraordinary cultural and natural heritage of truly international importance. It was the home of the Queen of Sheba and even has fossilised footprints of dinosaurs. Yemen has a vast potential market that includes the entire Arab world, as well as those that remember British Aden, cheerfully visited by Queen Elizabeth II and of which the French poet Arthur Rimbaud was a resident for ten years. It will quickly recover once the current conflict is resolved. In the meantime, Socotra remains fully operational and is the jewel of Yemen tourism.
Having represented Yemen Tourism for five years, managing director, Dunira Strategy, Benjamin Carey provides Natalie Hami with his insight on the current state of travel and tourism to Yemen in the face of its recent troubles
Press trips and study tours are being planned. TTG: What message can we as travel trade convey to the rest of the industry? Check an atlas! Socotra is a world away from the mainland and the blanket travel advisories by foreign governments are inaccurate and ill-informed. The travel trade needs to educate consumers about the accessibility of these places – and the fact that insurance is readily available. Frontier Travel Insurance, owned by pioneering British insurer AAIB, offers excellent policies for responsible travellers to unusual destinations.
DID YOU KNOW? The dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), which is identifiable by its unique umbrella shape, is found primarily in the mountain highlands of the island. These unique trees stand between 3m and 10m in height. (information provided by the Yemen Tourism Promotion Board website http://www.yementourism.com/ )
TREKKING ON SOCOTRA > Skand peak and return to Skand eco-campsite (six hours) Visitors can have a picnic on the meadows of Skand among dragon blood trees. On a clear day a view of Hadibo below can be seen. > Deneghen – south Wadi Deneghen is located just outside Hadibo. It is a five-day journey which includes camping in tents, with all board and the necessities provided for by Socotra Eco-Tours. > Klison – Matyaf A gentle descent from Klison to the beach in Matyaf will lead trekkers to between wadis and fresh water pools.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ON SOCOTRA? (provided by Socotra Eco-Tours http://www.socotra-eco-tours.com/) According to founder and CEO, Socotra Eco-Tours, Abduljameel Abdullah Ali Mohammed industry stakeholders have been preparing for the upcoming tourism season. “However currentlythere is a no-fly zone imposed. We hope this will be lifted soon.” Mohammed explained that the tourist season in Socotra is between October and May. “We are expecting tourists in the upcoming season as Socotra is as always safe. We would like to assure all that Socotra has always been safe and we encourage all to invest in eco tourism in Socotra.”
ECO-CAMPSITES: // AMAK // DIHAMRI // DITWAH // HOMHIL //ttgmena.com ROSH // SKAND // ADEEB’S ECO-LODGE
26 August 2015