Iran announces tourism vision for Arabian Gulf island

The Iranian government has announced its plans to establish to develop the island of Abu Musa, part of a six-island archipelago in the eastern Arabian/Persian Gulf, as a major new tourist destination.

Iranian Vice President and Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation (ICHTO) Head Seyed Hassan Mousavi said the government aims to promote tourism in the region.

Mousavi also said plans to establish the "exemplary tourism spot" at Abu Musa have been designed to attract overseas tourists to the area, while generating revenue for local people.

Mousavi was quoted as saying "(we) intend to promote tourism industry in the region and maximise the high potential of the island."

The 12 kilometre2 Abu Musa island is of considerable strategic importance as it commands the vital Strait of Hormuz. Administered by Iran as part of the province of Hormozgan, it is also subject to a claim by the United Arab Emirates and has become a focal point of tension between Iran and its GCC rivals.