Background:
Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr. ʿAbd al-Ṣarāfi and Yemeni officials accompanying him, speak about Western tourism to Yemen, investment opportunities and economy. He particularly addresses concerns over tourists’ safety in light of recent kidnappings, Yemeni agriculture, and the resources oil and water.
Side A:
A government official translates a previous speech by the Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr. ʿAbd al-Ṣarāfi. He spoke about the Yemeni relationship with the Netherlands, the importance he attaches to it and its history. He ensured there should be nothing to worry about: Yemen would open and safe; the government had taken several steps to prevent kidnapping of foreign nationals. This would stress the importance the Yemeni government attaches to tourism. The recent terrorist kidnapping in Abyan [28/12/1998; sixteen foreign tourists] had already been transferred to court. Outside, foreign propaganda would exaggerate the happenings. The minister also gave numbers of the government’s income as well as those of the private sector. In 1998, 100,000 tourists visited Yemen, which resulted in an income of 270 million US Dollars. Most of it went to the private sector. For 1999, he hopes for 500,000 tourists. For 2000 he expects 1,000,000 tourists. There is no region in Yemen that the government recommends tourists not to visit.
Another official continues: the government does not want to financially rely on oil entirely. Before oil exploitation, income stemmed from immigrants from the gulf. There was active trade. The oil substituted this income. Now they are hoping for more foreign investment and tourism. He claims the majority of Yemenis are nice, and ultimately criminals cannot be prevented from committing crimes. Two years earlier, the annual oil revenue jumped to 1 billion US Dollars. At the time of the press conference, the annual oil revenue had fallen to 500 million US Dollars. They were also hoping for income from gas exportation. The preparations for gas exploitation had been done by French company Total and others. Now they are looking for markets. Other exports include coffee, cooking oils, cotton, grains, cigarettes, biscuits, candies and other small manufactured goods; going to a big extent to the Horn of Africa. However, these exports are not sufficient to balance Yemeni trade. He further talks about the plans for an Aden Free Trade Zone. Foreign investment is needed because it brings in money, a hard currency, experience, and expertise. Hence, the task of Yemen is to provide land, facilities and workers. He refers to the historic economic significance of Aden. After the Gulf War, 800,000 emigrated Yemenis returned home. Accommodating them initially was a burden on the economy. Most of them then stayed. He views the Yemeni market as an internationally independent market in light of dollar rates, and the rural population as being wealthier than the urban population. He also addresses the issue of water shortage. When asked about which project investments would be recommendable, he refers to smaller industries, minerals extraction and processing (silver, gold, copper, iron, zinc etc.), and tourism.
Side B:
The official continues with investment recommendations: agriculture in the region of Ḥaḍramawt, and its al-Masīla valley with its oil and water reserves. Also the region of Tihāma has water reserves, according to the official. In the al-Jauf governorate, there would be a lot of water but much of it being salty. Oranges and melons are planted there. The only grain Yemen needs to import is wheat. He says there are no Yemenis who suffer from hunger, although their nutrition hardly balanced; they traditionally rely on bread, made from wheat, sorghum, etc. There are enough vegetables. From May to December, different kinds of grapes are available. Conflicts between tribes are never of economic or nutritious nature. The last couple of minutes of the recording contain sounds of mosques in the distance.
