Extremist groups\' occupation of land has affected tourism Algiers – Hocine Bousalah The number of Algerian and foreign tourists visiting the Algerian Sahara region has declined sharply since the northern part of Mali was occupied by extremist Islamist groups. Bachir Djribi, director of Algeria’s union of travel agencies, said Sahara tourism has dropped by 90 percent “despite security authorities working hard to ensure the application of a security programme to ensure the protection of tourists in order to save the tourist season in the south, particularly during New Year celebrations.”
Djribi also said that safari tourism was not very popular amongst Algerians, and a 50 percent discount on flights had still resulted in “low demand.”
The official criticised authorities efforts to promote tourism saying they fell short.
The union official also noted a 40 percent drop in the number of reservations made by Algerians with foreign tourist agencies for New Year holidays abroad. Djribi cited increased living expenses and costs in most destination countries as well as restrictions on visas by European countries for causing the phenomenon.
Authorities had previously coordinated with tourist agencies to put in place a precautionary security scheme for the New Year holiday to guarantee tourists’ safety in the Sahara area.
Tourist agencies delivered route plans to authorities who would then secure the area ahead of visits. Authorities had lifted bans on visits to Tassili and the Hoggar Mountains, while restrictions remain imposed on other tourist destinations for security reasons.