Yemen’s Tourism Ministry wants to promote the country as a destination for Islamic Tourism. A spokesperson recently commented that, “There are a large number of cities, towns and villages in Yemen that are home to important historical and Islamic sites. We have a number of historical mosques and old centers of learning that would make attractive tourist destinations.
[Tourists] can go to Sana’a, Taiz, Mahweet, Shaiban Cocoban, Marib, Hodeida, Hadramout, Hajja. These places are all attractive and boast many interesting sites. They can go to Bait Al-Fakih, Zabid, and Tarim. Tarim was an old center of learning, and an Islamic university.”
While kath chewing locals are a regular site in Yemen, the security situation, due to threats from Alqaeda, makes it difficult for tourists to visit the country. The Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the surrounding areas are however, relatively safe and can be the first step to promote the country’s Islamic tourism assets.
