Yemen's damage from tourist kidnappings is $250 million and is intentional

A Yemeni official estimated that prior economic losses resulting from kidnappings of western tourists and the recent death of four hostages in a rescue operation amounted to $250 million through last month.

The chief of the general department for tourism, Abd El-Rahman Mahioub, said that the kidnappings to which the tourists were exposed last month, have targeted the Yemeni economy and the tourism sector, rather than security and stability.

Maihoub added that the meeting of the high council for tourism last week chaired by Prime Minister Abdul Karim al-Iryani took important decisions to deal with the diminishing tourism, including a precise security plan and a program, specifically aimed to increase tourism from the European countries.

Maihoub pointed out that the Yemeni ambassadors to the European Union are going to meet soon to establish a plan for saving the tourism industry and taking effective measures to correct the negative image of Yemen.

Moreover, Maihoub said that the Yemeni airlines and local tourism companies have also been greatly harmed due to the kidnappings, and that the government is setting promotional policies for them.