Destination : YEMEN

North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994 was quickly subdued.

Yemen covers 527,970 km2 in the south-west of the Arabian peninsula, and has access to the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. The narrow belt along the Red Sea coast is arid and barren. The mountainous inland behind it is rather fertile and rises to 3,760m, at Hadur Shu’ayb, the highest peak of the Arabian Peninsula. The rivers follow the land slopes and drain eastwards. The Gulf of Aden coast is sandy and indented and rises to the rugged Yemen Plateau inland. To the north the Plateau descends into the gravel wastes of the Rub al-Khali. About 10% of the population is nomadic. 14.1 million (1997 est). 80% live in the former North Yemen and 20% in the former South Yemen. About 30% people live in urban areas. Ethnic composition: Predominantly Arab, with about 4% other ethnic groups including Indo-Pakistani, Somali, Amhara, Swahili, Jewish, Persian, European.

There are big tourist potentials throughout the year due to the variety of natural weather conditions represented by the warm sunlights and refreshing sea waves and tides of the country's coasts. Besides, the private sector constructed beautiful and modern tourist centers in Aden, Hodeidah and Mukalla. No matter where you go deep down the Republic; either from the side of the Red Sea or the Arabian Sea; the central highlands can be seen distinguished with lively vegetation and freshly non-pullulated air. The province Ibb witits natural architectural beauty and green plantation is the prefect example of such natural wonders. The northern highlands also have an abundant wealth of vegetation focused through their agricultural terraces; typical patterns of rural villages-untouched by modern machinery, sophisticated equipment-and splendid landscape.

Perhaps the unique set-up and pattern of the rural landscape is said to be so natural to the extent of having had no effect whatsoever throughout the centuries i.e. customs, traditions, clothings and households of villagers are still 100% Yemeni-original. This not only can be wholly taken as one factor that attracts foreign visitors, but may immediately surprises them due to its distinction, beauty, unique form and taste.

Among the important towns for tourism are Aden, Sana'a, Hajja, Sayuon, Mukalla, Ibb, Mareb and Al-Mahweet. As for the tourist islands Socotra is by far the most astonishing! Moreover, each of them differ from the other- whether geographically known a town, city, village, district, or island-in terms of its physical features, historical sites, weather, and inherent traditions of the peoples.

Taking Socotra, for instance, except of scarcity of modern tourist centers, the island contains more than three hundred species of plants non-existing any where else in the world, and another thousand species of rare marine creatures. This island is about 600 Kilometers away from Aden and only conveniently reachable by air. However, the whole nature of the island-360 kilometer long- is extraordinary fascinating!

 

---

 © - Copyright hotels-world.com Travel Info - 2001