Algeria's tourism sector is witnessing significant growth with 294 hotel projects currently underway in designated tourist expansion zones. Of these, 183 projects are situated on private land, highlighting the crucial role private owners play in expanding the country's hospitality infrastructure. This development comes as part of the government's efforts to boost tourism, a key sector in Algeria's economic diversification plans.
The Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, led by Minister Houria Meddahi, has been actively working to facilitate investment in the tourism sector. Recently, Meddahi chaired a coordination meeting with central cadres and the National Tourist Land Agency (ANFT) to update the inventory of lands proposed to investors. The focus was on ensuring that lands are clear, developed, and exploitable to encourage tourism growth, particularly in the domestic and Saharan tourism segments.
According to the ministry, the 294 hotel projects approved are in various stages of realization within the tourist expansion zones. Out of these, 111 projects are on public land under concession, while the remaining 183 are on privately owned land. This indicates that over 62% of ongoing projects are hosted on private properties, showcasing the significant contribution of private landowners to Algeria's hotel infrastructure development.
The Algerian government has also been working on developing new tourist zones to further enhance the sector. Ten new zones are currently under development, with an allocated budget of over 10 billion Algerian Dinar. These zones, spread across several provinces including Biskra, Naâma, and Annaba, are expected to provide 70 plots of land for investors to develop various tourism projects such as hotels, tourist villages, and complexes.
To protect and optimize the use of tourist lands, the ministry has initiated the demarcation of tourist expansion zones. This process aims to prevent encroachments and misappropriation of these lands, while also providing a clearer picture of the available tourist land stock. The initiative involves collaboration with various government agencies, including the Domaines, land registry services, and local authorities.
Minister Meddahi has issued several directives to streamline and update the tourist land database. These include completing the inventory of lands within developed and connected tourist zones, finalizing infrastructure works, and addressing administrative and technical hurdles that hinder project implementation. The goal is to provide investors with clear and reliable information on available lands and potential projects.
The development of a national digital file for tourist lands is also underway. This file will contain detailed information on each plot, including its legal status, size, location, connectivity to utilities, and potential for different types of tourism projects. By enhancing transparency and accessibility of information, the Algerian government aims to attract more investment into the tourism sector and promote sustainable tourism development.
Key points
- Algeria has 294 hotel projects underway in tourist expansion zones.
- 183 of these projects are on private land.
- The government is developing new tourist zones and a national digital file for tourist lands to boost investment.
