The future of tourism and its development in Yemen [Archives:2003/676/Last Page]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
Location:
The archipelago of Hunaish is located in the territorial waters of Yemen, pin pointedly west of the famous Khokha Beach 18-28 knots. Alkhokha city is located 130 kilometers south of Hodaidah at the distance of Km 40 to the north of Mokha town. The Archipelago includes many islands of which are: Greater Hunaish, Little Hunaish, Jabal Zuqar and other small islands.

Greater Hunaish Island:
Located to the south of Little Hunaish 3.5 Knots away at latitude 13.44 north of the equator and the Longitude 42.54 to the east of Greenwich, 26 knots to the west of Khokha and 26 knots from the Yemeni Shoreline. Its area is 65 square km and it consists of rocky mountainous highlands at most in addition to some basins in many areas. The highest mountain is m430 above sea level. The island possesses a major desalination station, Electrical Generators and a lighthouse at the northernmost tip.

Little Hunaish Island:
Located to the south of Jabal Zuqar Island at the distance of 10 knots to the northeast of Greater Hunaish. Its area is about sqkm9 and lies at 2 knots away from Greater Hunaish, 26 knots from Al-Khokha to the northwest and 20.5 knots away from the Yemeni coastline. The Yemeni fishermen are found at these islands where they live for many months during summer and shield themselves from monsoon winds during winter.

Zuqar Mountain Island:
Located to the southwest of Abu Ali Island at the distance of 2.5 knots at latitude 1400 to the north of the equator and the longitude 45.42 to the east of Greenwich, at the distance of km33 of the Yemeni coastline. Its area is sqm120.

Siool Hunaish Island:
Located to the south of Greater Hunaish at the distance of 2.7 knots, 30 knots from the Yemeni Shoreline and has got an area of Sqkn3. Hunaish Archipelago includes other islands such as: Haycock, the Rock- the Rotund, the Southwestern Haycock, Middle Haycock, the Northwestern Haycock, the double summit island, the Rotund Island, the northern Rotund, the Corner (Queen), Moshaijirah, Daril, the Low one, the Tongue, the Western one, the Shark, Abu Ali, The Normal Elevated.

Access Routes to the Islands of Hunaish Archipelago:
Access routes to the isles are secured through the maritime lines as each of the said isles connects with all the moorings in Khokha, Qataba Village, Mawshij and the neighbouring areas. The access is also secured through one of the following Yemeni seaports: Mokha Seaport: located Km40 south of Al-Khokha. Hodaidah Seaports: located Km 130 to the north of Al-Kkokha. Aden Seaports: located Km 340 to the southeast of Al-Khokha. There are also four international airports serving access to the isles to the Hunaish Archipelago and they are as follows: Hodaidah International Airport: located km 130 to the north of Al-Khokha. Taiz International Airport: located km 180 to the southeast of Al-Khokha. Aden International Airport: located Km180 to the southeast of Al-Khokha. Sana'a International Airport: located km 384 to the northeast of Al-Khokha. The Yemeni coastline is also linked by a new strategic road, which is being built in order to link the fraternal States of Yemen and KSA via Midi at Hajjah Governorate, Yemen and Oman via Hawf at Mahra Governorate.
The Tourist Potentials of Hunaish Archipelago:
The Isles of Hunaish Archipelago are counted amongst the most beautiful sites for scuba diving. They are readily qualified to attract tourists due to the unmatched marine beauty underlying there underwater which house various kinds of fish including decorative fish. This qualifies them to become an attractive tourist destination as affirmed by many diving connoisseurs and amateurs who have started to flood of different European nationalities.

The Natural Potentials of Hunaish Archipelago Isles:
The natural elements are available for the archipelago isles in terms of highlands, beaches, and marine species such as the decorative fish and corals, which are available at depths ranging between 38-140 feet. All of which are significant tourist advantages permitting the diversification of the tourist product into recreational such as sandy beaches, mountainous trekking, scuba diving amongst colorful corals and decorative fish in addition to other natural and environmental constituents and properties.

The Natural of Hunaish Archipelago Beaches:
Beautiful Tourist Beaches covered with white softy sands and considered of the best in Yemen.

The Climate in the Archipelago:
The climate in the read sea is almost identical throughout the year yet in Mid-October until April the weather becomes cooler. The Continued Sunlight: its density exceeds 500 Watt/M most of the year.

The Temperature:
The water surface of the red sea increases to the south until it reaches 30-38 degrees centigrade in summer as for deep sea it ranges between 56-61 degrees centigrade.

The Relative Humidity:
It reaches 60%.
Raining Mean: the rain is considered in general little for it merely reaches 100-200 only throughout the year.

-Wind Strength and its speed: the Red Sea is mostly subject to southwestern winds, while during the period from January-April the winds blow towards the southwest. As for the period from May to September the area becomes subject to northeastern winds at the destination of water currents.

Tourism Investment Opportunities in Hunaish Archipelago:

It is varied between:
– Establishment of Tourism Coastal Resorts.
– Establishment of Tourism Services projects of which are the diving centers as well as Mountain Safari centers.
– Tourism Investment Incentives: Projects classified as three stars at least enjoy a number of incentives and exemptions as follows:
1- The foreign investors are entitled to transfer his net income resulting from his investments or any due returns there from to the exterior with any transferable currency.
2- Fixed imported assets destined for the establishment, enlargement or project developments are to be exempted from all the fees whether they are taxation or customs of any kind.
3- The projects are to be exempted from returns Taxation for up to seven years and the same applies on enlargement of the projects or their development, provided that the exemption does not exceed 16 yrs as of the start of operation or project activity exercise.
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