security / safety situation in yemen

ever tried telling someone that you're going to yemen for holidays? well, let me tell you that almost every person you say this to will pretty much immediately ask or comment about the security, or safety, situation there. here a selection of some of the reactions we got:

1. so, you bought a one-way ticket only to yemen?
(one of my bosses...)

2. ah yes, the return journey will be organised by the consulate.

3. can you never think of any normal places to go to?!

4. isn't this where they kidnap tourists as a hobby?!

5. i don't think i want to hear about your holiday plans.

6. oh well, the kidnappings are usually nice there, with a happy end.

7. please come back again, i'd still like to work with you in the new year.

8. you've gone completely crazy now.

9. you just go from one dangerous adventure into the next one.

10. cool. that's where they kidnap tourists every once in a while.

11. ...?!?!?!
(speechless facial expression)


well, back home safe and sound. though i should perhaps add that certain parts of the country can only be visited with a police escort (e.g. if you want to go to Shibam, the so-called Manhattan of the desert, then the journey eastwards from Mareb on, you're only allowed to travel with armed escort). nonetheless, the country is certainly worth visiting and the local population extremely welcoming (even to western women, and who do not wear the veil). there were many police checkpoints on the way where we had to hand in our travel permission for that specific region, so that was perhaps different from other countries visited before. in any case, as the roads are not always very well signposted, it is adviseable to travel with local guides and drivers anyway.


(an adventure travel website had the following comments regarding travel safety in Yemen: "Avoid the far north of the country towards Saudi Arabia, where tribesmen occasionally kidnap travellers to pressurise the government in disputes or demand a hefty ransom. The tourists are usually treated well, but not always.")