Yemen Monitor- Ahmed Abdulmonim
At the end of the last month Sama with a group of her friends decided to go on relaxing vacation to “Alfogr” area which is 70 K.M from Taiz city. On a saturday morning they got on their bus after they had coordinated with each other to rent it previously. Two hours later they catch their bus they arrived in their destination, but they were surprised by the time saw lots of visitors were already there. “ When we asked them where you come from, they told we came from different areas of Taiz governorate, and from Aden governorate too,” Sama said.
The story have started when some bloggers shared photos on social media for a green rural area in Taiz called Alfogr .This area has a bewitching landscap. It is grassy and there is a stream flows on it consistently without stopping.
Green Area
Alfogr is a small area in Al-Shamyatin district, southern Taiz. Although it’s only has 2.7 square kilometers, Alfogr is entirely green zone.As a result of that, too many people going there to relax and enjoy in its fascinating scenery. “The visitors have been beginning to coming here three years ago,” Abdulmged Ali who is one of the population where the living in Alfogr mentions. he adds ” Vistors ceaseleesly are coming for here . particularly in summer and in the Eids,”. The green nature is the most reason why people go to Alfogr. In contrast, Alfogr has no basic services for visitors such as private rooms or even public bathrooms. Nevertheless, more people going there permanently. Sama said that despite the lack of baisc services in Alfoger, the place makes people feel comfortable because of the fascinating nature that it has.We spent a nice time in Alfogr. We really had much fun, we played to the Oud and barbecued the steaks.
Relaxing Vacation
The low expense is one of the major factors that pulling people to go to Alfogr. sama adds ” when we went to there, each one of us paid ten thousands riyal as a bus fare from Taiz downtown to Alfogr. In addition to that every one spent three thousands riyal for the lunch and the water. Compared to similar trips we have already done it before in another zones, this trip was at too little expense. On the other side the bad weather and the climate change are another reasons why several people going to Alfogr and other green areas too. According to the head of the climate department in The Environment Protection Authority Abdulwahid Arman “Yemen is one of the most countries which is suffering from the impacts of climate change.Since 1980 the temperature has been rising by 2.6 degrees, and it rises annually by 0.6 degree. So, many people go to the green areas to avoid the effects by the bad weather and the high temperature”
Internal Tourism
The Tourism sector in Yemen is one of the vital sources which provides the national economy with income, but since the war began this sector has had massively harms .The foreign tourism has been entirely stopping as well as the internal tourism as a result of shutting the roads between the cities. However, many people have been starting to go picnicking on some natural zones like “Alfogr” in Taiz lately.
A director of tourism office in Taiz Mison Anigashi said, we have noticed that the internal tourism activities have been regaining at the green areas like Alfogr. these activities encourage people to visite another parts in the governorate too. So, that has positively effect on the internal tourism in a country has still suffered from endless crises.
