The Algerian government has designated USD 400 million to build two tourism villages and revamp 10 public hotels before the end of 2013, an official told Zawya.
""The government has allocated USD 240 million to renovate hotels and another USD 80 million for building a tourism village in Oued Souf and another USD 80 million for building a tourism city in Biskara Province, South Algeria," said Mohamed Chawey, a marketing manager at an affiliate company of the Algerian tourism ministry.
"Such projects will help augment the number of tourists to Algeria, expected to rise to three million by the end of 2012 against 2.5 million in 2011, in addition to attracting new investors," said Fares Mesdour, a professor of economics at University of Algeria.
"The number of hotels swelled to 1,200 at the end of 2011, 13 of which are five-star hotels. Besides, the number of rooms grew to 90,000 in Algeria at the end of 2011 compared to 72,000 in 2010," said Mesdour, citing tourism ministry statistics.
Algeria has designated around USD 1 billion to renovate public hotels. It also disclosed that a set of facilities, including credits has been provided for anyone interested in the tourism industry in South Algeria, by cutting down land prices marked out for investments, he said.
© Zawya 2012
