$200 million dollars in Yemeni losses due to kidnappings of foreigners

Official Yemeni sources said the kidnappings that took place in Yemen last year cost the country losses of $200 million due to the severe retreat in tourism, saying that 45,000 tourists visited Yemen last year in comparison with 87,000 in 1998.

The sources stated that the government adopted procedures to stop the kidnappings which affected tourism in the country, among which is starting a new law and establishing special courts to tackle the kidnapping operations.