Can Algeria Avert Financial Ruin Through Revived Tourism and New Visa Rules?
Photo Credit: The Roman ruins at Hippo Regius in Algeria, a tourism destination. Algeria is reckoning with increased financial pressure caused by a drop in energy earnings. It's mulling serious efforts for the first time in decades to ease its visa regulations and attract tourists. Flickr / Dan Sloan
Skift Take
Algeria faces dwindling cash reserves and an unsustainable economic model. Like much of the Middle East, it must diversify away from oil and attract visitors. The strategically located North African country boasts many ideal destinations. It remains unclear, however, if the government can turn to its historically overlooked tourism sector for much-needed economic relief.
From the deep blue Mediterranean coastline of Algiers to the winding alleyways of colorful Casbah, there are many spectacular travel destinations to explore in Algeria.
Africa’s largest country, which is just a short flight from much of Europe, is currently home to seven UNESCO-inscribed World Heritage Sites, such as the Roman ruins of Hippo Regius that stretch over vast land covered with green olive trees, flowers, and rosemary.
Despite its stunning rugged beauty and strategic location, the oil-reliant country has historically failed to promote itself as a key tourist destination over the decades, nor has it really wanted to for that matter.
“There was no real political will to invest in tourism,” said Dalia Ghanem, an Algerian political analyst and resident scholar at Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center.
“Unfortunately, because of oil and gas, tourism was never developed, and hence there is very limited and poor infrastructure when it comes to [the sector].
