The Algerian government is driving an initiative to build 750 hotels in 48 locations over the next three years at a cost of USD 5 billion, effectively doubling the number of hotel rooms in the country, a senior official told Zawya.
"Most of these hotels will be located on the coastal and desert tourism states. The ministry of tourism has agreed with some international companies, such as Sheraton, Marriott International and Golden Tulip, to start the project plan," said Mouloud Kheloufi, president of the Algerian General Association for Entrepreneurs. The government will fund the project in partnership with foreign investors, and local contractors will share the construction contracts, Kheloufi said.
Algeria had 1,200 hotels at the end of 2011, including 13 five-star properties. This aggregated to 90,000 hotel rooms, compared to 72,000 rooms in 2010, according to Jamal Shailan, the media advisor to Algeria's tourism minister.
The country hosted 2.4 million tourists in 2011, compared to 1.5 million in 2010. The number of visitors to Algeria in the first six months of 2012 was 1.4 million, and the tourism ministry expects to host a total of 3.2 million tourists by the end of 2012, Shailan said.
The 750 new hotels will include three five-star properties, a Sheraton in Annaba, expected to be completed in 2015, and two Marriotts in Constantin and Tlemcen. These will cost an aggregate USD 490 million, Kheloufi said.
© Zawya 2012
