The Algerian province of Tizi-Ouzou's efforts to boost local tourism through the renovation of public hotels since 2015 have been met with considerable delays. According to Rachid Ghedouchi, the director of tourism for the wilaya, none of the hotels under renovation will be completed within the initially allotted timeframe. The projects have already seen multiple extensions, and despite repeated warnings and changes in contractors, progress remains slow.
One of the most significant projects, the "Lalla Khedidja" hotel managed by ETK, was initially set to be completed by March of this year but will not meet this deadline. Ghedouchi cited issues with the Turkish contractor importing construction materials from Turkey, despite their availability in Algeria, as a major cause of delay. The materials were held up at the port due to customs procedures, and additional costs were incurred, further complicating the project.
The "Lalla Khedidja" hotel project has seen the involvement of a ministerial commission on multiple occasions to resolve issues, with work currently at 80% completion. The hotel is now expected to reopen in June, provided no further complications arise. Another hotel, "Le Bracelet d'Argent" in Béni Yenni, is also facing delays, with its completion initially set for April. The director of tourism expressed hope, albeit with little conviction, that this deadline might be met.
The "Belloua" hotel, with a current completion rate of 70%, is slated for a new completion date during the upcoming summer season. The Turkish company responsible for the renovations of these ETK-managed hotels has been issued two warnings. Similarly, hotels under the management of EGT-Centre are experiencing comparable, if not worse, delays. The "Amraoua" hotel, after facing several stoppages and issues, is not expected to be operational until the start of next year.
The renovation of "Amraoua" was reassigned to the national company Ben Hammadi after the contract with the previous Italian company was terminated. An agreement for the resumption of work was signed in January, with a 12-month deadline. Meanwhile, the "El Arz" hotel in Tala Guilef was set to be completed in the first half of this year but will not meet this target. The Turkish company working on the project is still in the construction phase.
The "El Arz" project, which includes a restaurant, hotel, and extension, is expected to be completed by the end of the year, assuming no further issues. On the other hand, the "Tamgout" hotel in Yakouren is stalled, with work at a standstill due to the Italian company failing to resume construction. Despite being issued warnings and a final deadline of February 28, the company has not restarted work.
A ministerial commission is set to visit the site next week, potentially leading to the termination of the Italian company's contract. Ghedouchi expressed frustration that the follow-up on these projects is centralized at the ministry level, which he believes slows down progress and hinders the local tourism directorate's ability to intervene effectively in a timely manner.
Key points
- Delays in hotel renovation projects in Tizi-Ouzou are attributed to issues with contractors and centralization of project oversight.
- The "Lalla Khedidja" hotel, one of the major projects, is expected to be 80% complete but won't meet its initial deadline.
- The slow progress has impacted the local tourism sector, which was counting on these renovations to boost activity.
