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Algeria protecting tourism asset to develop Saharan region

Global Arab Network - - Mohamed Tamer

Wednesday, 06 May 2009 00:25

The protection of tourism asset is the key to the Saharan region development, is among the main recommendations made by Cherif Rahmani, Algerian Minister of Town Planning, Environment and Tourism to heads of People's Communal Assembly (APC) of southern regions.

Speaking at a meeting as part of the cycle of meetings scheduled by the Ministry so as to renew the sector's vision and plans as part of the five-year programme (2010-2014), Rahmani emphasized the need to protect "the tourism asset," which includes palm groves, wonderful sites, outstanding architecture and the exceptional handicrafts."

According to figures from the Tourism Ministry, Algeria attracted 1.74m visitors in 2008. Nonetheless, more than 1.2m of these were Algerian expatriate nationals returning home for holidays, with just over 500,000 tourists originating from other countries.

In the race to develop its tourism amenities, Algeria has set itself the ambitious target of attracting 20m overseas visitors per year by 2025. To this end, the government has drawn up a strategy, the National Tourism Development Plan (Schéma Directeur d'Aménagement Touristique, SDAT), which identifies areas for potential development and measures to attract investment.

As part of SDAT, more than 280 new hotels are due to be built, a programme that is already under way. At the end of January, Tourism, Environment and Land Planning Minister Cherif Rahmani announced that contracts for 90 new hotels, including 12 rated as five-star, had been signed with domestic investors as part of the government's overall strategy to expand the existing visitor accommodation pool.

In 2001 tourism contributed 1.7% to Algeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, this figure has grown progressively in recent years. In its latest assessment of the industry issued last year, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said tourism's contribution to Algeria's GDP would rise from 6.4% or $8.4bn in 2008 to 6.6% or $13bn by 2018. Furthermore, the WTTC has predicted solid growth for the Algerian tourism sector over the next decade, in line with general expectations for the country's economy as a whole.

While the government is hoping that growing interest in Algeria as a tourism destination, along with the subsequent investment, will help reduce the ranks of the jobless, the WTTC predicts only a modest rise in the overall percentage of the workforce employed in the sector over the next 10 years, from last year's total of 506,000 to 666,000 by 2018. In spite of the absolute increase in the number of positions, this would only represent a minimal increase in terms of total employment, from 5.6% to 5.7%, due to the expanding employment pool in Algeria, with more of the relatively young population entering the workforce.

Algeria is stepping up efforts to revitalise its tourism industry, seeking to lure both more local and foreign investment. However, after years of neglect, Algeria's tourist infrastructure has a long way to go before the country catches up with its neighbours in the Maghreb in becoming a destination of choice.

By contrast, Tunisia hosted around 7m overseas visitors in 2008 and Morocco 8m, according to official figures, which puts Algeria's results into the shade.

Global Arab Network

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