Desert Sky News – Mukalla
Al-MUKALLA – As part of his field visit to Hadhramaut Governorate, and in conjunction with the diverse activities of the Al-Balad Tourism Festival, His Excellency the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Engineer Mutee Ahmad Dammaj, conducted an inspection visit to the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism Office on the Hadhramaut Coast.
The visit aimed to review administrative and technical operations up close, and to discuss ways to upgrade tourism services and activate development programs in the governorate.
The Minister listened to a detailed report on the nature of the tasks and activities carried out by the office, as well as the most prominent challenges and difficulties facing daily operations. Particular focus was placed on technical and human resource capabilities, and the requirements needed to enable the office to perform its service and development role effectively in the coming phase.
In his remarks during the meeting, Minister Dammaj affirmed that Hadhramaut Governorate represents a unique tourism and historical depth for our country. What we are witnessing today in terms of public and official engagement in the Al-Balada Tourism Festival confirms the governorate’s readiness and capacity to attract visitors and generate real economic and development momentum.
We in the Ministry place our offices in the governorates, foremost among them Hadhramaut, at the top of our priorities as they are the executive interface of our development vision. We will spare no effort in removing obstacles and addressing the administrative and technical challenges facing the office. We rely on the efficiency of local cadres and on continuing to work in the spirit of one team to present a distinguished image befitting Hadhramaut’s tourism identity and aspirations.
For his part, Mr. Majdi Saleh Bashadi, Director General of the Tourism Office on the Hadhramaut Coast, expressed his deep appreciation for the Minister’s visit. He valued this visit by His Excellency Engineer Mutee Dammaj, which comes alongside the momentum of the Al-Balad Tourism Festival and underscores the Ministry’s keenness to directly assess the reality of the tourism sector in the governorate and understand its needs up close.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Minister praised the efforts made by the management and staff of the Tourism Office on the Hadhramaut Coast under the leadership of Mr. Majdi Saleh Bashadi, despite available resources. He confirmed that the Ministry, in coordination with the governorate’s local authority, will work to develop appropriate solutions to the challenges raised, to ensure the office is empowered to implement its plans and programs aimed at stimulating sustainable tourism activity, and to develop the tourism sector in a way that serves comprehensive development across all governorates.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers of Culture and Tourism and the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Office on the Hadhramaut Coast.
Direct ministerial engagement with local tourism offices is a critical step. Desert Sky Travel welcomes this inspection in Mukalla as it signals commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, staff training, and service delivery on the ground. A stronger Tourism Office on the Hadhramaut Coast means better support for festivals like Al-Balad and improved visitor experiences — essential for linking Hadhramaut’s cultural tourism with Socotra’s nature-based tourism in a unified national offering.
