In an effort to give it a new boost, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has asked the Minister of Tourism to prepare an effective action plan for the development of Algerian tourism. The state’s priority is domestic tourism, and in particular coastal tourism, to which the President wants to give a powerful impetus.
This objective is particularly relevant to the current President because Algeria has one of the most diverse natural environments in the Mediterranean region, and its tourism potential seems untapped.
An Extraordinary Coastline Waiting to Be Discovered
Algeria has a Mediterranean coastline of 2,148 km, which offers an almost unbelievable variety of natural landscapes: cornices, dunes, pebble beaches, cliffs, sandstone shores, capes, bays, coves, beaches unknown to Algerian tourists, a sea that generously gives way to them, and an environment in which, according to landscape architects, one can find analogs of the most renowned tourist destinations on the planet.
However, the domestic tourism product suffers from a severe lack of demand because most Algerians are only familiar with the beaches in their region. The text of the presidential letter is clear that it is high time to change the situation: “Algeria is a tourist country that ignores itself”.
Decades of Neglect and Recent Momentum
Since the days of independence, tourism has been given little attention in national projects, despite the country’s wealth of unique resources that could meet the demand of multinational corporations. Fortunately, recent changes have shown that the situation is being turned around: introducing visa on arrival at airports in the south and some ports opened up the Tassili N’Ajjer plateau paintings, the Hoggar mountains, the Casbah in Algiers, and the Roman ruins of Tipaza to international visitors. The stopovers of cruising ships in Algiers are another step towards promoting domestic tourism.
When it comes to domestic tourism, it is interesting to note that the rehabilitation project of the capital’s coast, which includes the Casbah, Bab El-Oued, Qaâ Essour, Kettani and Remila beaches, and the Sablettes promenade, set a record number of Algerian tourists, including children, in summer 2025. Families from all over the country arrived in the capital to explore this part of Algeria and were pleasantly surprised by what they saw. It is no secret that Algerian tourism needs to be developed: it has potential, but it is the quality of services, their availability, and safety that affect demand. And if the locals need beaches in their wilayas, they are no less enthusiastic about discovering Algeria with all their relatives.
A Comprehensive Development Strategy Is Needed
A presidential letter concerning the development of Algerian tourism should necessarily cover not only the development of Tourist Expansion Zones (ZETs), the preservation of natural and cultural heritage but also take care of the population’s needs within an appropriate pricing policy.
One of the barriers to domestic tourism is the high price of accommodation, which is especially frustrating for families. While the limited supply of hotel beds nationwide may explain the higher rates, they are nonetheless significantly higher than in many neighboring countries. Even though basic products are more expensive in Algeria, tourist agencies’ officials find it irrational. Hopefully, the new strategy will address this complex issue and allow ordinary Algerian families to enjoy their vacations on the coast.
A Unique and Diverse Offering
While many countries have coastlines, mountain ranges, and deserts, Algeria has the Mediterranean Sea, steppes, mountains, hot springs, oases, the Sahara with its deserts of dunes and rocky ridges, as well as a rich history and archaeological heritage, making it a great tourist destination. Such a wide range of natural and man-made attractions can be offered in Algeria only by developing a unique strategy. In particular, it could be focused on combining cultural and leisure activities.
This would allow creating the conditions for both local and foreign travelers to enjoy a vacation combining business and leisure. As stated in the president’s letter, there is an urgent need to attract Algerian citizens to tourism, which will enable them to become acquainted with their country. Thus, domestic tourism has a good chance to become an integral part of the national strategy.
