Tourism in Algeria

Algiers

Tourism in Algeria contributes only about 1 percent of Algeria's GDP.^[1] Algeria's tourist industry lags behind that of its neighbors^[2] Morocco and Tunisia. Algeria receives only about 200,000 tourists and visitors annually.^[1] Ethnic Algerian French citizens represent the largest group of tourists, followed by Tunisians.^[1] The modest level of tourism^[3] is attributable to a combination of poor hotel accommodations, the perceived risk of terrorism, and antiquated, soviet-style visa requirements. However, the government has adopted a plan known as "Horizon 2025", which is designed to address the lack of infrastructure. Various hotel operators^[4] are planning to build hotels, particularly along the Mediterranean coast.^[1] Another potential opportunity involves adventure holidays in the south.^[1] The Algerian government had set the goal of boosting the number of foreign visitors, including tourists, to 1.2 million by 2010.^[1] Algeria is also working on new target with the World Tourism Organisation.^[5] The number of foreign tourists to Algeria have increased 20% annually between 2000 and 2005,^[6] Tourism Minister Noureddine Moussa said Monday (October 30) at a conference with the sector's executives. Over 140 building permits in the tourism sector have been granted by the ministry since November 2005 to nationals who want to invest in tourism infrastructures.

Main tourist attractions

• Cirta, the capital city of the Kingdom of Numidia
• Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad, the first capital of the Hammadid empire
• Belzma National Park
• Algiers
• Hammam Guergour
• Babors mountains
• Mostaganem
• The Tassili du Hoggar
• Timgad
• Hippone (so called Annaba)
• Madaure
• Taghaste
• The Aurès
• Tebessa (antique Theveste)
• Kabylie coast
• Tlemcen

Sites inscribed on the world heritage list of UNESCO:

• Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (1980)
• Djémila (1982)
• Kasbah of Algiers (1992)
• M'Zab Valley (1982)
• Timgad (1982)
• Tipasa (1982)

accommodation by category

6°category (none)	5°category(*)	4°category(**)	3°category(***)	2°category(****)	1°category(*****)	Total
1057	851	42	62	67-	22	13

Accommodation by category and capacity

6°category(none)	5°category(*)	4°category(**)	3°category(***)	2°category(****)	1°category(*****)	Total
4590	3383	14857	5415	2 315	51474	82 034

Accommodation by area

urban	Sea-side	Saharien	Thermal	Climatic	Total
48680	21710	4431	5742	1411	82034

National Office of Statistics.^[7] 2004

Various Information

• Roads 190 000 km
• Railway network : 14500 km
• Stations 2200
• Harbours 73
• 131 airports including 53 internationals connected with Air Algérie, Aigle Azur, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Tunis Air, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways.

References

1. Algeria country profile, p. 13. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (May 1, 2006).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. [Global Travel Industry News - Algeria calls for investment in tourism]http://www.eturbonews.com/11091/algeria-calls-investment-tourism
3. [AfrolNews Algeria hopes to reactivate tourism]http://www.afrol.com/News2003/alg002_tourism.htm
4. [Tourism Conference of 2008]http://www.assisesdutourisme.dz/
5. [International Seminar on Tourism Marketing Planning and Evaluation of Promotional]http://www.unwto.org/africa/activities/en/pdf/sumalgeria.pdf
6. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/news/awi/newsbriefs/general/2006/11/01/newsbrief
7. [National Office of Statistics]http://www.ons.dz/IMG/pdf/file__Tourisme.pdf]

External links

• Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft