Sana'a : Yemen's tourist development authority is looking for international investors to fund a $1 billion (Dh3.7 billion) development project that could boost tourist numbers in the country to 1.5 million by 2015, officials said.
The 2015 target of the development authority is to hit annual tourist revenues of $2 billion, more than double the current $903 million, Omar Babelgheith, Yemen's deputy minister for Tourist Development, told Gulf News at the Arabian Travel Market yesterday.
Tourist numbers saw a growth of almost 7 per cent in the first quarter of this year over 2008 figures. Babelgheith is hoping for similar growth for the rest of the year as well, despite currently facing international threat warnings for travellers.
"Growth will remain steady, hopefully," he said. Six major development projects have been approved by the government, each valued at about $150-$250 million. These include Midi coast project in Haja province Domya Island, Al Mark Island in Al Hudaida, Ras Al Araa-Khour Omira coast in Lahj province near Aden, Dabdab coast in Hadramout province, and Josolit coast in Al Muhra province.
The development plan will be implemented within five years and 2015 will see the final stage. Babelgheith said that the authority is flexible on the plans for foreign investment in the projects. "The agreement could be on building, operating, transfer (BOT) basis, or public, private partnership (PPP) or private financed investment (PFI). Whatever the investor prefers," he said.
The country is suffering the backlash against a recent assassination attempt on the British Ambassador. Some European countries have issued a warning to travellers to the country. Babelgheith said the tourism sector has been hurt more by media hype than by the actual events. "I feel the country is secure. We have international tourism consultants here who would have left the country if there was any real danger," he said.
