Official opening of the 2026 summer holiday season in Tizi Ouzou province

#MinistryOfTourismAndHandicrafts

#TiziOuzouProvince #OfficialOpeningOfThe2026VacationSeason

Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Ms. Houria Meddahi, accompanied by Minister of Interior and Local Governments and Transport, Mr. Al Saad Saoud, and Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Mr. Abd El Kader Glaoui, along with the Governor of Tizi Ouzou and their entourage, arrived at Houara Beach in the commune of Azzefoun, where official ceremonies marking the national opening of the summer holiday season for 2026 were held.

Where Tiaret Province includes five coastal districts featuring 18 beaches, eight of which are authorized for swimming and two are model beaches, and since 2024, 13 #TourismDevelopmentPlans have been implemented, covering all authorized swimming beaches and five new beaches.

The region benefited from a financial envelope exceeding 28.3 million Algerian dinars allocated to fund 11 preparation operations received in full by the Azfoun and Tizizert districts, contributing to improving reception conditions and enhancing the quality of services provided to visitors.

Houara Beach is one of the most developed beaches in the region, stretching over 704.94 meters in length and 45 meters in width, featuring soft sand. It is equipped with an officially approved tourism development plan and includes various essential facilities such as police and civil protection centers, an administrative office, water sanitation facilities, commercial platforms, leisure and recreational areas, and parking spaces.

Within the framework of implementing the new regulations governing beach exploitation, the conditions for the premium license have been adjusted to align with the new legal and regulatory framework, prioritizing professionals and respecting the legally defined 30% share of the sandy area allocated for exploitation. The bidding process included 20 lots across 8 beaches and 6 parking spaces, in addition to two hotel institutions benefiting from the premium license rights.

To ensure proper management and on-site supervision, eight lifeguards have been assigned to cover the eight authorized swimming beaches, with necessary resources provided to ensure smooth operation of the season.

The Tourism Investment indicators in the region were also highlighted, with coastal municipalities operating 12 hotels with a total capacity of 614 rooms, alongside 14 hotels under construction with a total capacity exceeding 2,054 rooms, reflecting the dynamic development of the tourism sector in the area.

Following the official announcement of the opening of #Summer2026, Madam Minister delivered a speech underscoring that the selection of #TiziOuzou province to host this significant national event highlights the province's distinguished tourism status, thanks to its unique natural and cultural assets, combining breathtaking coastlines, the majestic #Djurdjura mountains, traditional villages, and Algeria's rich #Handicrafts heritage.

Madam Minister stated that the summer holiday season represents a strategic pillar in realizing the high-level authorities' vision to make tourism a genuine driver for economic diversification and sustainable development, transforming it into a wealth-generating sector, a source of employment opportunities, and a catalyst for local development.

It also reviewed the key axes of the government's strategy for boosting the sector from 2026 to 2028, focusing on enhancing the attractiveness and competitiveness of Algeria as a tourism destination, developing domestic tourism, #TheFutureTourism, promoting #TourismInvestment, and modernizing the sector through #Digitization and integrating emerging institutions and innovative technological solutions.

In this context, Madam Minister stated that digitizing the sector has become a strategic option through the development of intelligent digital platforms, encouraging startups to offer innovative solutions in areas such as booking and electronic payment, tourism promotion, and smart guidance, thereby enhancing the traveler's experience and boosting Algeria's competitiveness as a tourism destination.

Madam Minister highlighted the efforts made to enhance #EnergyOfHosting and improve tourism service quality, noting that coastal regions now boast over 104,000 beds distributed across 901 hotel establishments, with 39 new hotel establishments joining the market during the current summer holiday season.

As mentioned, the "Accommodation for Residents" formula has been incorporated into the application under the joint ministerial directive issued on May 20, 2026, enabling the expansion of the tourism offering and providing competitive alternatives for Algerian families, as well as generating additional revenue for citizens.

It emphasized that developing #SaharanTourism represents one of the key pillars of the sectoral strategy, given Algeria's natural and cultural assets, positioning it as a leading destination in the fields of exploration and adventure tourism across the Mediterranean Basin.

It also emphasized that the success of the summer holiday season does not lie solely in #CoastalTourism, but is based on promoting an integrated tourism concept throughout the year, through highlighting thermal tourism, mountain tourism, and forest and family camping tourism, and by offering diverse tourism packages responding to the needs of Algerian families and Algerian nationals abroad.

Regarding the section on #Handicrafts, Madam Minister stated that artisans are a fundamental partner in tourism development, highlighting the sector's commitment to organizing exhibitions and showcasing and marketing spaces across all coastal provinces, thereby promoting national products and preserving Algeria's cultural heritage.

As I highlighted the prominent position held by Tizi Ouzou Province in the field of #TraditionalCraft, through its distinctive traditional products such as #IMSorryIDonTUnderstandYourRequest, #FouarMaatagha, #ZarbiyaIthHesam, and traditional clothing, emphasizing that over 17,000 artisans registered in the province contribute to the activation of tourism, cultural, and economic activities throughout the year.

Madam Minister emphasized that her sector continues to work in coordination with all ministerial departments to improve conditions for tourists, ensure free access to beaches, implement the new regulations governing their use, and provide safe and family-friendly spaces across all coastal provinces.

At the end of the visit, Ms. Minister, together with the ministerial delegation, conducted a tour of all the exhibition halls of the open exhibition organized in connection with the event, which featured representatives of the security agencies, executive directorates, and participating institutions contributing to the success of #Summer2026.

The ministerial delegation also stopped by the #Handicrafts fair organized in conjunction with the event, which featured 40 exhibitors representing various craft specialties. The delegation reviewed the diversity of products on display, including #TraditionalClothing, #TraditionalHandicrafts, #TheCeramics, #ZarabiTraditional, and #CarvingOnWood, alongside several food and beauty crafts and local traditional products.

The fair features the participation of four artisans awarded the National Award for Traditional Crafts and six artisans holding #TheMarkOfQualityAndAuthenticity, embodying the excellence achieved by traditional crafts in the province of Tizi Ouzou.

During the visit, Ms. Minister praised the quality of the products on display and the role artisans play in preserving Algeria's national cultural heritage, emphasizing that #Handicrafts constitutes a fundamental pillar in promoting Algerian tourism and enriching visitors' experiences, as well as contributing to economic activity and job creation.

Post shared by the Office Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts - Algeria.