Skip to content

Soqotra Heritage Project

Soqotra heritage survey

Funded by the British Council through its Cultural Protection Fund, the Soqotra Heritage Project is seeking to understand awareness of Soqotri cultural heritage in order to develop sustainable supply chains and markets for associated products that can contribute to the conservation of traditional crafts and heritage practices in communities across Soqotra (also known as "Socotra"), one of Yemen's four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This survey is an invitation to contribute to an analysis of the problems and opportunities. Whether you have Yemeni or Soqotri heritage, live or work in the region or have an interest in these traditional crafts, we want to know your opinion. Some questions are optional. All responses will be treated in confidence. It should take about 10 minutes to complete.
1.Profile. How would you describe yourself? (Please select all that apply)(Required.)
2.What's your interest in traditional crafts of Soqotra and/or Yemen?(Required.)
3.Traditional crafts. The following products have been identified as having market potential. How aware are you of these products and their production?(Required.)
Comprehensive
Limited
None
No opinion
Aloes
Baskets
Ceramics
Dragon's Blood Tree resin
Dresses
Drums and other musical instruments
Embroidery
Frankincense
Honey
Jewellery
Knives
Palm weaving
Rugs/carpets
Salt
4.Market potential. As long as products can be supplied sustainably and responsibly, would you be interested in buying them?(Required.)
Definitely
Possibly
Unlikely
Never
No opinion
Aloes
Baskets
Ceramics
Dragon's Blood Tree resin
Dresses
Drums and other musical instruments
Embroidery
Frankincense
Honey
Jewellery
Knives
Palm weaving
Rugs/carpets
Salt
5.If there was an opportunity to buy crafts from Soqotra, how important would the following considerations be for you?
Essential
Desirable
Optional
Irrelevant
No opinion
Certificates of authenticity
Fair trade certification
Female participation
Local ownership
No child labour
Not for profit
6.If you have experience of buying crafts from Soqotra, what obstacles or issues did you experience?
Significant
Not significant
No opinion
Availability
Authenticity
Cost
Export/import restrictions
Lack of information and awareness
Protected species of flora and fauna (CITES)
Quality and consistency
Sustainability concerns
7.Priority markets. We know that people want to buy traditional crafts from Soqotra. Where do you think there is the most market potential for products from Soqotra?
Highest priority
Clear potential
Limited potential
None
No opinion
Yemen (including Soqotra)
The Soqotri/Yemeni diaspora in the Gulf
The Soqotri/Yemeni diaspora in Europe and North America
Expats living and working in the Middle East, including Yemen
Former visitors (including tourists, scientists and other researchers) to Yemen/Soqotra from Europe and North America
People interested in traditional crafts
8.Premium. In order to help conserve these traditional crafts, would you be willing to pay an additional amount for products from Soqotra that would contribute to the conservation of these traditional crafts and artisans?
9.Thinking about physical visitor centres and online websites you've visited that focus on traditional crafts that might be useful models, and organisations or networks that might be interested in helping to promote traditional craft products from Soqotra to their customers/members, are there any that you'd like to share?
10.If you are willing to be contacted for further discussion and/or would like to hear about future activities, please provide your contact details.