Algeria: A Sleeping Giant Awakens to Tourism
Algeria, long overlooked by international tourism, is now taking center stage. The prestigious American magazine Condé Nast Traveler has ranked it among the best places to visit in Africa in 2026, highlighting that this "sleeping giant" is now opening up to travelers.
Historically perceived as one of the most closed-off countries in the world, Algeria is revising its visa policy. Visas on arrival are now available for the Sahara and the High Plateaus, a flagship measure of a "tourism master plan" aimed at quadrupling arrivals by 2030. Furthermore, a national e-visa system is planned for the near future.
This relaxed policy is already generating interest among tour operators: Explore Worldwide, specializing in small groups, will launch its first expeditions to Algeria in early 2026. The proposed itineraries will be varied:
- A desert itinerary (with rock art and wild camping)
- Another focused on Algiers and its historic neighborhoods
- A third combining 16 days of discovery between cities and desert
Evolving Infrastructure
To accompany this opening, Air Algérie is modernizing its network:
- The company has created a subsidiary dedicated to domestic connections (Tassili Airlines)
- It is investing in a new fleet (with delivery expected in 2026)
- It is planning additional international flights, with New York being mentioned as one of the projects
In the hotel sector, renovation projects are underway. One of the most symbolic is the Grand Hôtel Cirta in Constantine, a historic building (originally opened in 1912) that could reopen in 2026.
Moreover, by appearing alongside other emerging African destinations such as Angola, Arusha (Tanzania), the archipelagos of Bazaruto and Vilanculos (Mozambique), or Fez (Morocco), Algeria confirms its return to the continental tourism scene.
