Tourism in Algeria

Algeriais the largest country inAfrica; one of the maintourist attractionsis theSahara, the largestdesertin the world. Algeria has been a member of theWorld Tourism Organizationsince 1976. According to a report of theWorld Tourism Organizationpublished in 2014, Algeria was the 4th largest tourist destination in Africa in 2013 with 2.7 million foreign tourists,and ranks 111th on the international tourism scene, according to the London-based World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC). The tourism sector in Algeria accounts for 3.9% of the volume of exports, 9.5% of the productive investment rate and 8.1% of the gross domestic product.
The main competitors are other Mediterranean countries, the majority of which have developed a strong tourism-based economy.The tourism sector in Algeria remains weak concerning accommodation and other services. For this reason, the government launched a strategic plan to boost this sector entitled “The 2030 Master Plan for Tourism Development”.
According to theU.S. News & World Report, Algeria was ranked among the top 80 countries in the world in 2018.
The US national newspaperUSA TodayrankedConstantineamong the eleven cities to visit the world in 2018. The newspaper was based on the experience ofSal Lavallo, one of the youngest people to have visited all 193 member states of theUnited Nations.
A project developed during the "National and International Conference of Tourism" was born providing a new dynamics of reception and management of tourism in Algeria. This project is called (Horizon 2025). Foreign investors, mainly French, position themselves to dominate the market, focused mainly on a business clientele.
An initial advertising campaign was rolled out to attract investors and foreign customers, along with conferences, trade shows and commissions.
The World Cup-winning former footballerZinedine Zidaneof Algerian descent was also used for a new commercial carried out under the aegis of the telephony operator,Ooredoo Algeria, intended for an international audience.
A Quality Tourism Plan Algeria was adopted by the government but by the end of 2010, only 10% of tourist structures in Algeria have joined this program. Investors remain interested in the potential of the country, as well as the high authorities, as the representative of the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Frédéric Perret, told the conference of the International Tourism and Travel Exhibition held In Algeria in 2010, that the Algerian tourism sector has great potential thanks to its "Mediterranean beaches, its fascinating Djurdjura National Park, its human, cultural and historical treasures."
As part of the tourism development policy, 'Eductour' is regularly organized for the national and international.
Algeria is home to seven UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.
Religion in Algeriais dominated byIslamat about ninety-nine percent of the population.The vast majority ofMuslimsinAlgeriaadhere toSunniIslamofMalikischool ofjurisprudence. There are also almost 100,000Christians, mostlyPentecostalProtestants.  There are nearly 2,000Jewsliving in Algeria, according to the US department of State.
This is a list of some of the best-known mosques and churches in Algeria:
Djamaâ El Djazaïr(Mosque of Algeria, in Arabic: جامع الجزائر); or Great Mosque of Algeria (in Arabic: مسجد الجزائر الأعظم) is a mosque in the process of completion, located inMohammediainAlgiers. It is the largest mosque in Algeria and Africa and the third largest mosque in the world by total area, after theGreat Mosque of Meccaand theAl-Masjid an-NabawiMosque inMedina.
Ketchaoua Mosqueis amosqueinAlgiers. It is located at the foot of theCasbah, which was built during the Ottoman rule in the 17th century, which is aUNESCO World Heritage Site. The mosque stands on the first of the Casbah's many steep stairways, and was logistically and symbolically the cynosure of the pre-colonial city of Algiers.The mosque is noted for its unique fusion ofMoorishandByzantine architecture.
Notre-Dame d'Afrique(Our Lady of Africa) is aRoman CatholicbasilicainAlgiers.Louis-Antoine-Augustin Pavy, who served as the Bishop of Algiers from 1846 to 1866, paved the way for its construction.Thebasilicawas inaugurated in 1872, after fourteen years of construction. It was founded byCharles Lavigerie.Its architect,Jean-Eugène Fromageau, who had been appointed the chief architect for ecclesiastical buildings inFrench Algeriain 1859, employed aNeo-Byzantinestyle.Its floor plan is unusual as thechoiris situated on the southeast instead of the usual east side of the building.
1st November of 1954 Great Mosqueis considered to be the largest mosque in Algeria and the second in Africa It is located in the town ofBatna. This imposing religious building has been open to the faithful since 2003 and is one of the great architectural achievements of the city.
TheBasilique Saint Augustin(Basilica of St Augustine) is aRoman CatholicbasilicaandPro-cathedraldedicated toSaintAugustine of Hippolocated inAnnaba,Algeria. The basilica is under the circumscription of theDiocese of Constantine. Construction of the basilica began in 1881 and finished on March 29, 1900, though the church was not dedicated until April 24, 1914.  The statue of St. Augustine in the basilica contains one of hisarm bones. It was built not far from the remains of the Basilica Pacis built bySaint Augustine, where he died while the city wasbesiegedbyVandals.
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Oranis aRoman Catholicchurchlocated on the Place de la Kahina, on Boulevard Hammou-boutlelis, inOran.
Djama'a al-Djedid, also referred to as the Jamaa al-Jadid,Jamaa El Jedid, or the New Mosque,(Turkish:Yeni Camii, meaning New Mosque) is anOttomanmosque located inAlgiers, the capital ofAlgeria.It was built in 1660 in accordance with the traditions of theHanafischool.During the French colonial rule, the mosque was called the Mosquée de la Pêcherieand inEnglishthe Mosque of the Fisherman's Wharf.
Great Mosque of Tlemcenwas first built inTlemcen,Algeriain 1082. It is one of the best-preserved examples ofAlmoravidarchitecture. It was built under sultanYusuf ibn Tashfinbut substantially reconstructed and enlarged by his sonAli ibn Yusuf. An inscription dates this reconstruction to 1136. SultanYaghmoracen(1236-1283), the founder of theAbdalwadiddynasty ofTlemcenadded a section with a minaret and a dome in the 13th century. Next, to the mosque, there used to be an Islamic court (Makhama) and an Islamic university of considerable fame.
Abdallah Ibn Salam Mosqueis a mosque in Algeria. Formerly the Great Synagogue ofOran(in Arabic: معبد وهران العظيم), it was built in 1880 at the initiative of Simon Kanoui, but its inauguration took place only in 1918.Also known as Temple Israelite, it is located on the former Boulevard Joffre, currently Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib. It was one of the largest synagogues inNorth Africa.
Once Algeria gained its independence in 1962, almost all Jewish settlers had returned to France. An estimated 100 to 120 thousand Jewish settlers, as well as a million other European settlers and 100 thousand MuslimHarkis, had fled Algeria choosing to settle in France during thePied-Noirexodus.
The Jewish settlers relocating to France in the 1960s were assigned "repatriate" status and classed alongside the European settler population because the Jews of Algeria had been French citizens since theCrémieux Decreeof 1870.
The Abdallah Ibn Salam mosque is named after the 7th-century Jew from Medina who converted to Islam.
Algeria benefits from important natural assets such as its beaches in general still in the wild, landscapes and zones like theAlgerian Desert. There are 10 national parks in Algeria, including theTassili Cultural Park(100,000 ha) or theAhaggar Cultural Park(Hoggar) (380,000 ha)
Hiking enthusiasts have access to the vast mountains of Kabylia. Despite what is thought, Algeria also has a ski area in Tikjda as well as spas.
Architecturally, there are strong Berber, Arabic, Spanish and French influences following colonization, but also more contemporary works. The main post office inAlgiersremains a monument of the neo-Moorish type, the work of Jules Voinot andMarius Toudoire. TheCasbah of Algiersis also a place of visit classified as a world heritage ofUNESCOsince 1982.
The Algerian Sahara is one of the most important tourist destinations in Algeria, the Great South is a flagship destination internationally. Hiking is not the only way to discover the Sahara, in fact, camel rides on a Meharée camel or in a 4x4 vehicle, or even formulas combining hiking, camel trekking, and 4x4.
The Algerian Desert is located in north-centralAfricaand is part of theSahara Desert. The desert occupies more than four-fifths of the Algerian territory. Its expansion starts from theSaharan Atlas, more or less as a stony desert and the farther inland you get the more of a sand dune desert it becomes.
In the southwestern parts is the mountain rangeTassili n'Ajjerlocated. This area is a subject of great archaeological interest and was put up on the "World Heritage List" byUNESCOin 1982.The area is known for extreme aridity and extreme heat, as daytime temperatures are commonly between 46 °C (113 °F) and 51 °C (122 °F) during the hottest period of the year in most of the desert.
Cities and towns such asOuargla,Touggourt,Beni Abbes,Adrar,In Salahare among the hottest places on Earth during the height of summer. The annual average rainfall is well below 100  mm (3,93 in) in the northernmost part but the center and the southern part receive much less than 50  mm (1,96 in) and are therefore hyper-arid and among the driest places on Earth.
Among the unmissable places of the Sahara in quote:
Algeria has many thermal resorts including:
The cuisine of Algeria is a fusion ofAndalusian,Berber,Mediterranean. It differs slightly from region to region. Every region has its own cuisine, includingKabylie,Algiers(couscous)andConstantine.
Algerian cuisine is influenced by various cultures such as Berber, Arabic, and French. Most of the Algerian dishes are centered around lamb or beef, olive oil, fresh vegetables, and fresh herbs. Traditionally, no Algerian meal is complete without bread, normally a long French baguette or more traditionally a flat semolina bread.Porkconsumption is forbidden to devout Muslim inhabitants of Algeria in accordance withSharia, religious laws of Islam.
Algeria, like otherMaghrebcountries, produces a large range of Mediterranean fruits and vegetables and even some tropical ones.Lambis commonly consumed. Mediterranean seafood andfishare also eaten and produced by the little inshore fishing.
Algerians consume a high amount of meat, as it is found in almost every dish.Muttonis the most eaten meat in the country.Poultryandbeefare also eaten Other uncommon types of meat such as game, birds, andvenisonare considered a delicacy.Wild boaris also hunted and eaten. Whileporkis not available in stores, it can only be bought from hunters directly.
Vegetablesthat are commonly used includepotatoes(batata/betetè),carrots(zrodiya),onions(bsel),tomatoes(tomatish/tømètish),zucchini(corget/qar'a),garlic(ethom),cabbages(cromb), andeggplant(badenjan).Olives(zéton) are also used.Vegetablesare often used instews(jwaz/djwizza) andsoups(chorba) or simply fried or boiled.
The Kesra, traditional Algerian flatbread, is the base of Algerian cuisine and eaten at many meals. A popular Algerian meal ismerguez, an originallyBerbersausage.
A common and one of the most popular dishes of Algerian cuisine iscouscous,with other common dishes includeshakshouka,Karantita,marqa bel a'assel, a speciality fromTlemcen, andchakhchoukha.Spicesused in Algerian cuisine are driedred chilliesof different kinds,caraway, Arabianras el hanout,black pepperandcumin, among others.
Algerians also use tagines, handmade in Algeria. Algerian food is often cooked in clay vessels, much like Maghrib cuisine. Algerian cuisine represents the region north of theSaharadesert and west of the Nile.
Algerian chefs take a lot of pride in cooking skills and methods and their many secrets lie in the variety of ways they mix special spices.
There are many different types of Algerian salads, influenced by French and Turkish cuisine, which may include beetroot or anchovies. There are also dishes of Spanish origin in Algeria, like theGaspacho Oranais, an Algerian version of aManchegodish.
Northern Algeria is in the temperate zone and has a mild, Mediterranean climate. It lies within approximately the same latitudes as southern California and has somewhat similar climatic conditions. Its broken topography, however, provides sharp local contrasts in both prevailing temperatures and incidence of rainfall. Year-to-year variations in climatic conditions are also common.This area, the most inhabited in Algeria, is commonly referred to as the Tell.
As thetenth-largest country in the world, and the largest in Africa and in the Mediterranean region,Algeriahas a vast transportation system which includes many transportation infrastructures.