Over 750,000 visitors in 2025, including 65,000 foreign tourists
"Trends News Hub" —ALGERIA
Mr. Meriah, Director of Tourism and Traditional Industries for Ghardaïa Province, has revealed "striking" results for desert tourism in Algeria, confirming that this sector is no longer a luxury but a key development driver. It is fully integrated into the national strategy for sustainable development, impacting all sectors, with tourism serving as an economic, social, and commercial engine.
Figures that speak for themselves: from 470,000 to 750,000 visitors
In an exclusive statement to "El Khabar," the official explained that the 2025-2026 desert tourism season — running from October to April — recorded over 470,000 visitors to the southern regions, including 47,000 foreign tourists. Data for the year 2025 alone shows 750,000 tourists visited southern Algeria, among them 65,000 foreign tourists.
Meriah considers these figures a strong indicator of the sector's successful vision, which has turned southern Algeria into a "diverse, mosaic-like tourist destination." He noted that these numbers confirm the upward trajectory of tourist flows, growing year after year.
The "provisional visa" as a key driver
Meriah attributed this rising performance to several measures adopted by the highest state authorities, most notably the "provisional visa product." Alongside the standard tourist visa system, this measure has significantly boosted tourist flows toward desert destinations in particular and Algeria in general.
He added that the sector's promotional strategy — leveraging both local and international experts and participating in trade fairs worldwide — has been crucial in raising awareness of Algeria's tourist destinations and stimulating international demand.
A destination for Algerians first and foremost
Challenging common assumptions, the Tourism Director stressed that the desert is no longer reserved for foreign tourists, but has become a major destination for Algerian families. He stated: "A strong tourism culture has emerged among Algerians. We don't just see this in statistics — we see it with our own eyes during peak periods, especially when the desert tourism season coincides with school holidays and the end-of-year festivities."
Investment: 21 new hotel establishments in 2026
On the investment front, Meriah announced that the year 2025 saw 10 new hotel establishments come into operation across the southern provinces, bringing the total number to 258 establishments offering over 21,000 beds.
For 2026, he expects 21 additional hotel establishments to open, with a total capacity exceeding 1,600 beds. He highlighted a significant diversification of offerings, particularly through tourist camps, which have become the primary demand for desert visitors, driven by a growing interest in camping in open spaces, immersing in nature among the sand dunes, away from urban environments.
Investment incentives: 40-year concession contracts and digital transparency
Responding to a question about incentives for investors, Meriah highlighted the new Investment Law 22-18, which he said has established procedural transparency through the electronic platform of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI). He also noted the role of "tourist real estate," managed by the National Tourism Development Agency (ANDT).
He emphasized the most significant incentive: the concession contract, now lasting up to 40 years. This allows investors to use the contract as collateral to secure bank loans for project financing, while the public treasury bears the costs of developing tourism zones before handing them over in a ready-to-operate state.
Professional training to improve service quality
The Tourism Director did not overlook the training programs launched for managers of hotels, travel agencies, and tour guides. These initiatives aim to improve service quality and accelerate digital transformation within the sector. Training sessions have been held in several provinces, including Ghardaïa, Biskra, and Oum El Bouaghi, in preparation for the next phase (2026-2028), which will target various professions linked to desert tourism.
Thermal tourism as a foundation for medical tourism
Regarding the development of medical tourism, Meriah confirmed that it would be developed through the gateway of thermal tourism. He noted that the public group "Hôtellerie, Tourisme et Thermes" (HTT) already operates 8 thermal spa resorts in the desert region alone, with a total capacity of 4,000 beds. This demonstrates the sector's potential to attract medical tourism that combines treatment with touristic discovery.
Outlook for 2026-2028
Concluding his remarks, Meriah emphasized that the next phase (2026–2028) will focus on increasing accommodation capacity by improving tourist circuits that connect cultural, archaeological, and natural sites. Special attention will be given to the High Plateaus region, considered the "first gateway to the vast open desert space," alongside intensified training and strengthened digital promotion.