Driven by “Visa on Arrival” facilities and international promotion
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Desert tourism in Algeria
The numbers recorded in the desert tourism sector in Algeria reflect a clear upward trend in the demand for this destination, driven by a number of facilities approved by the authorities, most notably the “visa on arrival” system adopted since 2023 in addition to the regular visa, as well as tourism promotion campaigns and participation in international exhibitions, which contributed to enhancing the attractiveness of southern Algeria for local and foreign tourists.
In this context, it was recorded Desert tourism during the 2025-2026 season Extending from October 2025 to April 2026, about 470 thousand visitors to the southern regions, including 47 thousand foreign tourists, while the total number of tourists during the year 2025 reached about 750 thousand tourists, including approximately 65 thousand foreign tourists from various countries of the world.
The Director of Tourism and Handicrafts in the state of Ghardaia, Merih Saad, explained during his hosting of the “Guest of the Morning” program on the first radio channel that these indicators confirm the continued high demand for the desert destination, in light of the diversity of tourist offers and the increasing interest in desert activities, including camping and safari trips via four-wheel drive vehicles, in addition to visiting natural sites and sand dunes.
At the infrastructure level, during the year 2025, 10 new hotel establishments entered service, raising the accommodation capacity to about 258 hotel establishments with a total capacity estimated at 21,000 beds, most of which are from private sector investments.
During the year 2026, it is also expected to open 21 additional hotel establishments with a capacity of more than 1,600 beds, in addition to developing tourist camping facilities that are witnessing increasing demand.
Saharan tourism also records a growing demand from Algerian families, especially during school holidays, as it has become a favorite destination alongside foreign tourism, with each southern state distinguished by its tourism specificity, such as the state of Ghardaia, which is considered the gateway to the Sahara and is famous for palace tourism and cultural heritage.
These data as a whole reflect a continuous growth path for the sector, which strengthens the position of desert tourism as one of the promising economic streams in Algeria.
