The second edition of the National Natural Salt Festival began on September 26, 2026, in Tamellaht, Ahnif, in eastern Bouira province. The event was launched by local authorities at Ighzer Oumeziav, with over 1000 participants from 37 wilayas across Algeria. The festival is organized by the Tourism and Handicrafts Directorate in collaboration with environmental and cultural associations from the Tamellaht region.
The festival aims to promote and develop the natural, cultural, and tourist attractions of the Tamellaht region. Participants include tourists, representatives from associations and sports leagues, artists, and poets. The event coincides with the World Tourism Day celebrations on September 27. The festival features exhibitions showcasing salt and its derivatives, traditional clothing, jewelry, and local cuisine.
The site of the festival, Ighzer Oumeziav, is known for its abundance of natural salt. Local women demonstrated traditional methods of salt extraction, exploitation, and use. Visitors showed interest in learning about the process, and some expressed intentions to invest in the region's tourism sector. The festival also features a book exhibition and other cultural activities.
According to Rachid Aknouche, the festival's commissioner, participants come from various wilayas, including Algiers, Tipaza, Tizi Ouzou, and Msila. The event has attracted a large audience interested in discovering Tamellaht's landscapes and learning about its history, particularly its role during the National Liberation War.
Mellouk Ahmed, an artisan from M'Chedallah, expressed his enthusiasm for the festival, stating it is an important event for the region, allowing people to discover and potentially contribute to its development. The festival also saw the signing of conventions between local authorities and investors interested in utilizing the region's natural resources for therapeutic purposes.
Leila Bouridane, Director of Tourism, emphasized that the festival aims to promote and valorize the natural, cultural, and tourist heritage of Tamellaht, contributing to the region's development through tourism projects. The festival will continue until September 29, 2026.
The event has sparked interest among investors, with some expressing intentions to collaborate with local authorities to develop the region's thermal resources. The Hammam Ksana thermal complex in El Hachimia plans to use the natural salt for therapeutic purposes.
Key points
- The festival promotes the natural, cultural, and tourist attractions of Tamellaht.
- Over 1000 participants from 37 wilayas attend the festival.
- The event aims to contribute to the region's development through tourism projects.
