After fourteen years of closure, the Algerian Sahara is reopening its doors to international tourists. The government, the national airline Air Algérie and local actors are working with ardor and conviction to revive tourism in the country.
The singularity of the Algerian Sahara
Famous for its size and the plurality of its deserts, the Algerian Sahara offers an incomparable change of scenery. Composed of mountainous and rocky massifs, valleys, wadis and dunes, this territory stands out both for its diversity and its history. The presence of funerary structures, rock paintings and engravings mark the traces of past civilizations that have populated these spaces for two million years.
Crossing the Algerian Sahara is a journey of adventure and humanity. Accompanied by the Tuaregs, visitors discover and share the life of these desert men, ready to tell their stories and knowledge of their territory. Moments that bring a whole new dimension to this resort. For Mohamed Zounga, Director of the incoming agency Akar Akar, “There are no tourists among the Saharans, there are only guests”.
Axel Roubaud, of Authentika Voyages remembers: “I have never been so well received. I arrived with 50 francs at the time, and I did not spend them. This is Algeria. »
TOs and agencies work hand in hand with Air Algérie and specialized DMCs in southern Algeria to boost the country’s tourist potential. Explorator, a partner for 48 years, took over the destination in February. “Our goal is to perpetuate Algeria and to safeguard the heritage of all these past years,” says Manon Du Chaffaut, Production Manager.
For Nouvelles Frontières, the goal will be to reprogram southern Algeria in the 2025 brochure, last planned in 2006.
The outlook for Air Algerie
At the head of the national airline Air Algérie since June 2022, Yacine Benslimane promises the renewal of the direct flight Paris-Djanet. “Previously, a weekly flight provided this route from Charles-De-Gaulle, so we are in the perspective of strengthening this connection, in particular with a direct flight from Marseille. In addition, we want to open a line to Tamanrasset. Our goal is to resume the habits of before the closure of the Algerian desert. The flights will take place on weekends with a departure on Saturdays and a return on Sundays. Air Algérie is also studying the relaunch of Timimoun and Ghardaïa with a frequency per week in direct flights from Paris in the first place. This will take effect from the Saharan season which will begin on October 22, 2023.
The national airline has just placed an order for 15 new medium and large aircraft, including 8 Boeing 737-9 MAX, 5 Airbus 330-900 and 2 Airbus 350-1000, operational in 2025. In order to complete its current fleet, 10 leased aircraft will be operational from the middle of June 2023.
In order to promote the attractiveness of the country, Air Algérie sees bigger and plans to create a low-cost company at the end of 2023 to challenge all competition.
The conditions of entry into the territory
The Algerian authorities are setting up a visa delivery system for individuals and groups, based on the price of €110. For travel organizers, the request consists of sending a copy of the customer’s passport to their receptive partner, along with the completed form. Once the documents have been received, they are posted on the platform of the Ministries of the Interior and Tourism.
If the request is now subject to a period of 15 days, Air Algérie and the government aim to issue the visa for up to 7 days. “We are doing everything we can to facilitate entry into Algerian territory. Next season, in October 2023, French tourists will obtain their visas within a week. “says Yacine Benslimane, CEO of Air Algérie.
The destination’s 2024 objectives
Since 2022, the country has participated in major European tourist fairs and carried out communication campaigns, educational tours and press trips. Through these different means and the attractiveness of this destination, Algeria wishes to reach 3 million visitors by 2024 and intends to take advantage of the post-covid craze, subject to the discovery of wide open spaces and tourism. adventure.
Translated from : https://www.tourhebdo.com/actualites/destination/le-sahara-algerien-signe-son-grand-retour-sur-le-marche-du-tourisme-779285.php
