YEMEN’S Minister of Tourism has been presented with the illustrious Golden Rudder Award as the country’s leaders and partners prepare to implement its tourism strategy for 2010.
The second half of 2009 saw an outstanding promotional campaign in Europe, which included road shows in the UK, France, Germany and Italy, as well as hugely successful participation at the annual World Travel Market in London.
On his return Tourism Minister Nabil Hassan al-Fakih was invited to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to receive the Golden Rudder Award from the International Tourism Award Board of the Arab Tourism Organisation (ATO) in recognition of his ‘unfettered efforts to promote tourism to Yemen and his continuous and loyal cooperation with the ATO’.
He said: “We recognise the importance of tourism to Yemen’s economy and its role in presenting Yemen’s true identity to the world. Through co-operation with our friends in other countries, we can ensure that sustainable tourism contributes to enduring social and economic development in Yemen.”
Acknowledging that the past year had been difficult for tourism everywhere, he added that ‘co-operation, security and sustainability will continue to be central to our tourism strategy’.
The focus is now on implementing the country’s strategic plans for 2010 in conjunction with Yemen’s global partners at an international conference in the ancient capital Sana’a exploring how responsible tourism can bring economic benefits to Yemen.