The influx of millions of tourists to Yemen came to a halt as the country become embroiled in a civil war which began in 2015 and is still lasting. Since then tourist arrivals dwindled and keep on decreasing due to the hopeless situation. For the brave who still wish to enter the country, there are numerous museums and ancient ruins to see.

Travelling info

All visitors traveling to Yemen are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Citizens of Hong Kong enjoy visa-free entry while some of the Arab world countries may enter Yemen by obtaining a visa upon arrival. Citizens of all other nations must get a visa prior to their trip. Holders of Israeli visas will be denied entry into Yemen. Visitors who wish to drive in Yemen must have both their national driving permit and an international driving permit in order to legally drive. Drivers must beware that international driving permit is only a translation of the original driving permit and both documents must be with the driver at all times.

Travelling hazards

Yemeni security officials advise against travel to rural areas, and the Government of Yemen sometimes places restrictions on visitors traveling outside Sana’a. Travel by road in Yemen should be considered risky. Within cities, although minivans and small buses maintain somewhat regular routes, they pick up and drop off passengers with little notice or regard for other vehicles. Taxis and public transportation are widely available, but the vehicles may lack safety standards and equipment. Western women have reported incidents of sexual harassment by taxi drivers, especially at night. Despite the presence of traffic lights and traffic policemen, drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution, especially at intersections. While traffic laws exist, they are rarely enforced and not adhered to by motorists. Drivers sometimes drive on the left side of the road, although right-hand driving is specified by Yemeni law. Pedestrians, especially children, on the roads constitute a hazard in both rural and urban areas. Pedestrians frequently cross the street without regard for oncoming traffic. Animals may cross the road without warning in both cities and rural areas. Beyond the main intra-city roads, which are usually paved and in fair condition, rural roads generally require four-wheel-drive vehicles or vehicles with high clearance. Many rural roads are in poor condition, and mountainous roads often are not equipped with safety railings. Drivers should take special caution in the spring and fall when rainstorms can cause flash flooding on roads in both urban and rural areas.

Environmental hazards

There are no large animals in Yemen which would pose a threat to people. Instead, there are numerous snakes and other creepy crawlies inhabiting the Yemeni desert. There are several lethally venomous snakes in Yemen. Most notable of these are the puff adder, Egyptian cobra and several sea snake species. Survival often depends on the proximity of the nearest hospital and the response of emergency services. This also applies to the fat-tailed scorpion which can be found in Yemen. Its bite can be lethal and survival often depends on the response of emergency services. Because of the ongoing conflict in the country, such response may be greatly delayed or unavailable in parts of the country. Shark attacks off the Yemeni coast happen and despite no such occurrence in the past decade, such incidents cannot be ruled out.
There is a variety of natural disasters striking Yemen ranging from soil liquefaction which damages roads and even results in deaths to frost which has also claimed lives. Floods and thunderstorms carry the biggest death toll.

Health hazards

There is an outbreak of cholera in Yemen. Every visitor is strongly recommended to get vaccinated against cholera. Apart from cholera, there are no other outbreaks. There are however several vaccines which are recommended to visitors. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. There is, unfortunately, no approved vaccination against malaria. There is a however alternative way to protect against contracting malaria. Since the disease is spread by mosquitoes, the use of mosquito repellents and installing mosquito nets in the windows of your accommodation is strongly recommended. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria and it should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. The health care system has been decimated by years of unrelenting war. Supplies and medical care are scarce as is the access to drinking water and sanitation. Private facilities have little room to exist due to ongoing conflict and economic instability. The vast majority of reliable healthcare is provided by the red cross and other healthcare foundations. Despite the fact that emergency services exist, they might be delayed in response due to the danger of the conflict or unavailable at all in certain parts of the country.
In case of an emergency dial 199.

Crime

Due to the ongoing situation in Yemen crime statistics are unavailable. The ongoing conflict including sieges, bombings, and battles make crime least of the visitors worries. All if no most governmental travel advisories state that their citizens should avoid all travel to Yemen and that if they happen to be in Yemen to depart as soon as it is safe to do so. Most consulates and other diplomatic missions from various countries have abandoned Yemen. The control over territories shift quickly and it is often unclear who controls what part of Yemen. The capital city itself is under constant threat of bombing by the allied air force, acts of terrorism, assassinations, etc.

Summary

This once great destination with numerous attractions including the capital itself which is one of the longest continuously inhabited places is now in a desperate condition which does not seem to improve since 2015. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/middle-east/yemen/passport-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/yemen