According to an interview in The Economist, Somalia's Minister of Tourism, Abdi Jimale Osman, says he has not had a single officially acknowledged tourist in 14 years. No wonder. For starters, if you check into the Sharmo Hotel in Mogadishu, management advises guests "to hire at least ten armed guards to escort them from the airport," and the city's cathedral is scrawled with graffiti reading, "Beware of landmines." But Mr. Jimale insists, “Tourists can still go and see the former beautiful sights. The only problem is they're all totally destroyed. Most of the animals have disappeared too, because we have eaten them.” There are, however, bargains to be found: In the market, a hand grenade sells for $10, a Howitzer for $20,000, and Mr. Jimale assures visitors, “I'm sure tourists would leave Somalia alive, and I'm hopeful they wouldn't be kidnapped. At least, we would try to make sure they were not kidnapped, although it can happen.”
