Bahrain will embark in March on a one-billion-dollar tourism project to build a string of artificial islands northeast of the Gulf state, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
Saud Kanoo, chairman of the Gulf property firm Oasis, told Al-Ayyam that the six-year venture called the Salman Islands would be "the first integral investment project in the Gulf."
The project spread over five islands will comprise nine five-star hotels, a zoo and a number of homes, apartment blocks, recreation facilities, commercial complexes and sports centers, he said.
Bahrain, the only Gulf country not to export oil, is counting on tourism to diversify its sources of revenue. Between two and three million tourists visit the archipelago state each year, according to official figures. — (AFP, Manama)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
