In the face of the depletion of hydrocarbon resources, on which the economy is dependent, Algeria wants to develop its tourism industry, now at almost zero, into a full-fledged economic sector. The impact of the Arab Spring which its neighbors in the Middle East suffered could play in favor of Algerian tourism, through the recovery of loyal visitors to Egypt and Tunisia. But so far, the country's tourism industry is disabled by its undeniable lack of infrastructure and the continuing threat of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the Sahel. Today, Algeria’s first challenge is to develop its hotel supply. More international groups are present at the call of the promising destination in terms of business travels, before they explore the leisure dimension more deeply.
Key figures -* Population : 37 million -* Area : 2.3 million sq. km -* Nb of hotels : 1,151 -* Nb rooms: 43,500 -* Tourism statistics: 2.3 million tourists in 2011 -* Primary supply markets: France and TunisiaAs it celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of independence, Algeria is facing new challenges. After the war ended French colonization in 1962, the largest country in Africa in terms of area built its republic on oil profits, which has been reinvested in other economic development projects over the years without major success. Today, Algeria remains dependent on the oil windfall, and finds itself threatened by the decline in oil prices and the decline of its natural resources program. "From 2020, the country's oil revenues should start to decline," warned Abdelmajid Attar, the former CEO of Algerian oil company of international stature, Sonatrach. Currently, Algeria is the fourth largest exporter of oil and gas in the world, which account for 98% of its total export earnings, and it has the largest GDP in North Africa and the fourth highest in Africa, at nearly $ 189 billion in 2011. Aware of the risks of dependence, the country is now seeking to diversify its economy and is seeking other promising sectors, such as tourism, which today only counts for 1% of its GDP. Two obstacles stand then its way: the weakness of its hotel and the terrorist threat that deters some tourists from going there. AQIM remains very active in Algeria, mainly in the north of the country.Tourism to compensate for the decline in hydrocarbon revenus Recently, Algeria has identified more than two million tourists annually, the majority from the domestic market. In 2011, 2,395,000 visitors chose the destination for their vacation or business trips, 16% more than the previous...
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