Yemen’s leisurely beaches require development [Archives:2006/948/Last Page]

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May 22 2006
Marine life could be a major tourist attraction
Marine life could be a major tourist attraction
By: Ismail Al-Ghabri
During the appropriate season, tourists race to vacation-spots pursuing rest and relaxation at the beach, by the banks of a river, or on the mountain slopes, which all have scenic landscapes that captivate the senses and allow the vacationer to benefit from the fresh air and tranquility.

Marine tourism is a priority for many states. To attract tourists, and the cash inflows that accompany them, governments often set-up tourist centers, beach-houses, and villages so that thousands of vacationers will spend their holidays there, sometimes staying for weeks at a time.

Few tourists packs his bags before becoming familiar with the country they plan to visit. Tourists who come to Yemen from across the globe know in advance that Yemen still follows many customs and traditions that are of very ancient origins and are in many ways pre-modern. They also know that Yemen has of mountain ranges, plateaus, valleys, plains, deserts, and seashores. They will be sure to bring the appropriate clothing in accordance with weather conditions, time of year, and the region they plan to visit. The general climate is typically accommodating without extreme temperatures. Overall, the climate is moderate and wonderful.

Though marine tourism in Yemen is still in its infancy, its future promises to be prosperous after construction of tourist centers and other tourist-related projects by the seashore are completed.



Yemen's coasts are long in mileage and diverse due to the fact that Yemen lies next to two vital seas; the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Besides abutting these two seas, there are many Yemeni islands situated in them inhabited by both man and animal life. In addition, some of these islands remain volcanically active.



Al-Tair Island (Island of the Bird)

Choosing one of these islands out of the tens of islands that skilled fishermen and travelers visit, or, at the very least, get acquainted all the fascinating sea-life, can be a difficult prospect. Yet, let us choose Al-Tair Island, or the Island of the Bird. Ancient sailors knew of the importance of this island more than we do now.

All that we know from our sea journey or from the existing literature is that the island of Jabal Al-Tair an important stopping point in the past. This was due to its strategic location overlooking the shipping lanes that passed by the island.

Al-Tair Island is located 47 nautical miles from the east coast of the Red Sea and 82 km, or 40 nautical miles, from the Kamaran Islands and 150 km from the Eritrean coast.

Even now, the Al-Tair Island has two watchtowers for control and observation; since the large warships, cargo ships, and oil tankers all pass by it. The Island lacks a settled population, but some parts of the island allow for the seasonal presence of fishermen.

It is known, that Britain used to administer the island on behalf of its naval value. Yemen now has this advantage. In order that we might learn more about the sea, our ship takes us out to the depths to see what is there. All around us are marine life of different sorts and kinds, coming and going with all their myriad colors, shapes and sizes.

This is just a quick glimpse of marine tourism and its significance. What a superb tourist attraction Yemen's coasts would make with the appropriate services that make internal and international tourism grow and prosper.

We will find it difficult to traverse all of the sea, even if we continue sailing the Red and Arabian seas for months. There are areas of these seas still unknown to common folks or experts of the sea.

What concerns us, however, are some of the sites on the coastline of the two seas, especially those most suited for rest and vacationing. Mention must be made of the Tihama coast where one finds cities like Hodeida and Mocha, or Khobha (Abu Zahr), Al Irj, Yakhard, and Moshy.

In Aden, the coast at Al-Tawahi, like Al-Arousa (the bride) Khalij Alfiel (the gulf of the elephant) and the Gold Mohur all stun the senses with their great beauty. In little Aden, we have Buraiqa, where the soft sands abound, some never touched before.

In Crater we have the pleasant beaches of Huggat, Sira, Ma'ashiq, and Abu Al-WAdi. How one craves to see these places with all the tourist services already in place. As it stands now, these beaches can compete with all the beaches of the Arabian Peninsula. What would be their competition if modern tourist facilities existed?
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