Mohamed Tahir almotamar.net - SANAA-A source at the ministry of tourism has revealed that an Egyptian and another from the Emirates have begun their investment in the Yemeni islands of Kamaran and Zafir at the time some Arab and foreign companies are currently conducting technical and field studies on possibility of building tourist projects in some islands possessing environmental, geographic and beautiful scenery sites.

The source told almotamar.net that the Egyptian company Orascom for Hotels and cultural development signed last May through the Group of Hayel Saeed Anam an agreement of building an investment tourist project in the Yemeni Kamaran Island at a cost of $ 350 million for its first phase. The phase includes building 5-star and 4-star hotels, tourist resorts, villas and residential flats, restaurants and rest houses in addition to an airport and a port for tourist boats, a hospital and schools and business shops. The project also includes building of sea water desalination station and sports playgrounds. Meanwhile a United Arab Emirates company is still negotiating for building a refinery and tourist complex in the island of Jabal Zafir.
The source who asked not be identified said other foreign companies encountered difficulties at offering their bids because of absence of articles in the investment law permitting the building of 5-star tourist hotels and chalets having tourist services such as serving alcoholic drinks and dancing halls. The companies are waiting for any amendments in the tourism law allowing the building this kind of projects.
The source said a number of Italian, Spanish, British, Australian, Chinese, Saudi and Emirates companies specialized in sea tourism have signed understanding memos with the ministry of tourism and the general authority for development of Yemeni islands for offering investment bids but negotiations floundered because of what those companies of some difficulties blocking the process of establishing projects despite the fact that Yemeni islands possess environmental and marine life diversity as well as tourist and geographical sites.