The Traveller's Magazine
After the release of Ewen McGregor’s newest film and a surge of interest from tourists, the Yemen tourist board wishes to assure future British holidaymakers that there is in fact no salmon fishing industry in the Yemen.
As we fall in love with the newest romantic comedy on the big screens, starring none other than Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, travellers and promising anglers are booking holidays in the Yemen under the impression that there are salmon to be caught in the country’s idyllic looking rivers and wadis.
The Yemen Tourism Promotion Board has been swamped with requests for information on salmon fishing since Salmon Fishing in the Yemen hit theatres. They say that while there aren’t many opportunities to catch salmon (although you’re welcome to try) in the Yemen the country does have some excellent possibilities for sea fishing excursions.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Synopsis
Haven’t seen the film yet? Dr Alfred Jones (played by the always handsome McGregor), a government expert in fisheries, is given the task of introducing salmon to the rivers of Yemen by a very wealthy sheikh so that he can fish for them. It’s a metaphor for impossible, because we all know cold northern fish could never survive in the scorching Saudi weather and dry valleys.
Travelling to Yemen
Currently the Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently has a warning against all travel to Yemen as Western tourists could be targeted for kidnap during a time of civil unrest and violent political clashes. Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East and for now, is considered highly dangerous for Western tourists.
That being said, Yemen borders two incredibly beautiful and tourist-friendly countries: Oman and Saudi Arabia. If you want to escape to a desert oasis on the Arabian Sea or the Red Sea, then we recommend either Oman or Saudi Arabia. If angling is your thing you won’t be catching too many salmon while on holidays in the Middle East but you can catch some handsome game fish like Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, Sailfish and Marlin.
What are your favourite places to fish? What did you think of the film?
