'Socotra to become tourist destination'

Yemen's Minister of Tourism, Moammar Al Erynani yesterday said Socotra island will become a tourist destination.

He told the Yemeni news agency that the government is working to overcome all difficulties and launch direct international flights to and from Socotra, issue tourist visas and train tourism staff.

The minister noted that Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who takes great interest in the island, had issued an order to make Socotra a governorate to boost development and accommodate international tourists.

Al Eryani said his ministry seeks to set up a company to run tourism investments in the island, in partnership with business people from members of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).