Algeria has qualified for the 2010 World Cup - may soon make Algeria a land of football sensation also that Algeria is a beautiful travel destination is still almost unknown in the North African country with its 1200.. Kilometers of Mediterranean coastline and the Sahara desert in the south five times as large as France. But tourists shunned the country for security reasons. Now stabilized the political situation, and Algeria would like to change its image.
"We want to show the image of an Algerian who wins, we want to return to our place and our market in the Mediterranean."
This goal was before Cherif Rahmani, Algerian Minister of Environment, Planning and Tourism.
At the International Tourism Fair in Algiers (early December 2009), a delegation of journalists and tour operators from Algiers, was flown into the Sahara desert in order to ascertain the potential of the country.
"You start with the blue of the Mediterranean. If you drive through the mountains, it will be green in the desert you have yellow and ocher."
Ryan Fezouine lived in Algeria in France. As it eight years ago in his home country for vacation came - he was so well liked it. His travel agency out of European tourists by Algeria, currently around 100 a year. He organized this year, the fourth Harley Davidson Sahara rally. In the opposite direction the business is better: 1000 Algerians to fly with Ryan Fezouine on holiday to Europe.
Tourism in Algeria is still in its infancy. The largest share of the 1.7 million tourists a year, the Algeria turn himself in, and those who live with their families abroad. Only half a million foreigners come, especially French, Chinese, English. The 10 000 Germans, which in 2008 traveled to Algeria, were mostly businessmen. Andreas Hergenröther, managing director of the established four years ago, German-Algerian Industry and Commerce in Algiers, which belong to 620 companies.
"We see great potential in Algeria, on the one course for the bilateral trade Algeria in an economic support program in the five-year plan 150 billion dollars earmarked to develop the infrastructure. There are of course areas for which the German industry can act as an excellent partner. "
's third largest economy in Africa is thanks to oil a rich country. But since the 90s, Algeria is usually associated with terrorism in the headlines, complained the French tour operator Maurice friend
"Unfortunately, you mostly hear the bad news and rarely from the trains arriving on time This is also true for Algeria. . Algeria is suffering from its negative image, that's not true anymore. "
Maurice and his friend Alternatively Agency Point Afrique "were awarded by the press with the award for sustainable tourism. Friend regularly sends aircraft in several Algerian cities and now also makes its own representation in Algiers.
2015 the country expects more than three million tourists. The construction of 274 hotels and 20 plants has started to do.
that takes the state development plan to 2025, the leader Kada Sahli is too long. The Algerian has already resulted in the 80 years of tourists through the dunes of the Sahara.
"I'm retired in 2025 to write things in my unemployment pension application I have to..? Was his lifetime of work Who will pay for me"
Kada will not wait until the government delivers on its promises. He draws hope, because coming in two years tourists.
"The dunes of the Sahara are a hotel with more than 1000 stars. With rooms and everything you need."
