But the reality is that, without proper environmental policing, Socotra is ripe for exploitation.
When the British colonised Aden, 880km (550 miles) to the west, they paid scant attention to Socotra.
The pristine environment and untouched feel makes Socotra an alluring, yet under-travelled destination.
No one knows exactly when, but some millions of years ago Socotra split away from mainland Arabia and Africa.
Despite an influx of tourists, Socotra can hardly be described as crowded.
Socotra is an island of roughly 50, 000 people located 380km off the coast of Yemen, the country to which it only technically belongs.
Two years ago a secretive French expedition came to Socotra, financed by a pharmaceutical company, and took away countless rare plants for testing.
Aside from tourists, foreign companies have also become interested in Socotra.
Brought to Socotra centuries ago by sailors, they reproduced rapidly and are now a staple of island life, providing both food and income for their owners.
Other strange plants, which elsewhere have been grazed to extinction, still thrive on Socotra, oozing aloes that the native Socotrans cultivate as cosmetics and herbal remedies.
The Biodiversity Project's scientists fume, saying that this was tantamount to raiding the island's precious genetic bank, without sharing any of the proceeds with Socotra's impoverished fishermen and shepherds.
Though the timeline remains unclear, plans for a new, vastly expanded port funded by Kuwait has stirred debate, as it could eventually bring thousands more people to Socotra each year.
Since 1999 though, when a commercial airport was built on the outskirts of the capital Hadibu, outsiders have started to discover Socotra, a trend that is helping to ease poverty and diversify the economy, but is also putting the traditional way of life at risk.
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