|
|
A Special International Report
Prepared by
The Washington Times
Advertising Department - Published on July 2, 1999
[Home Page]
|
|||||
Advertisers (1) Sonatrach,
An International Petroleum Group
|
 |
A country made for Seaside Algiers still manages to have some of the charm of the Cote d'Azur but with the feeling of a modern, bustling city. Algeria has three types of climate:
Algeria is often claimed to be the crossroads of three worlds - Mediterranean, Musulman and African. It also boasts coastline with numerous sandy bays. The interior of the country presents plenty of opportunities for sport and leisure activities, ranging from skiing in the mountains to skiing in the sands of the Sahara. A recent report on privatization and investment in tourism sets out many priority sites for expansion, including thermal spas. One interesting and popular sites which was extensively visited before the problem of terrorism took Algeria off the tourist map some nine years ago is Tamanrasset. This small town with some 40,000 population buried in the Sahara in the extreme south, some 2,900 kilometers away from Algiers, seems like something out of a Foreign Legion adventure book. From its elevated situation in the hills, meaning that temperatures are bearable, and visitors can use four-wheel drive vehicles to set off into the varied sandy and rocky countryside.
Tourism here is all set up for visitors who want to ride camels, visit the touaregs, drive along hundreds of miles of sand tracks and spend the night freezing under the desert stars. Tourist authorities often arrange special trips far into the hills to watch sunsets or sunrises, which in parts of the surrounding desert are among the most beautiful in the world. Tourists also meet and eat with touaregs and can even get the feel of desert rallying. On a recent trip where journalists and members of the travel trade were entertained by the Algerian Minister of Tourism we learned the advisability of choosing your travel companions on long Landcruiser rides - you cannot easily jump out and run off screaming in the middle of nowhere after five hours of uninterrupted chatter about hygiene education in primary schools. You may believe that the desert is a dry place, but there's a lot more water about than you would think. We achieved the impossible and got stuck in the mud with our Landcruiser.
If you are a vegetarian you might feel like another type of holiday, as most meals seem to consist of whole animals, the meat from which you have to peel off with your fingers. But hospitality is marvelous and local people are pleased to welcome and drink tea ceremonially with you. But there are other tourist spots in Algeria. El Oued is an island of cupolas in the desert full of mysterious spicy perfumes. The town's intriguing architecture differs from the flat terraces normally found in the South. The nearby hills of Termemouare like a lunar landscape. The long, amber, transparent dates of Oued R'hir have been named "fingers of light". Touat and Gourara - Timimoun is a former meeting place of caravans bringing gold, cotton and ivory from the south and cereals and spices from the north. In this town whose predominant color is ochre, the mosque, the Sudan Door and wall sculptures are popular sights for tourists. Ghardaia deserves a longer visit; dominated by its Ibadite Minaret the town is said to be a masterpiece of planning is set in the middle of an area full of date plantations. Sights to be seen include the Mozabite cemeteries and the five surrounding cities, which were founded between 1012 and 1048.
Near Djanet the Tassili N'Ajjer contains rock drawings unique in the world and a giant and fantastic open air museum which has been miraculously preserved by the purity of the atmosphere that needs weeks to explored. The capital Algiers (El Djazair), enclosed in a bay surrounded by hills, has been described as the Marseilles of the Maghreb, characterized by two colors, the blue sea and the green of its gardens. El Djazair means "the islands" but they have long since disappeared to become part of this Mediterranean city, with its past preserved by palaces, French colonial buildings and the ancient Casbah. Whether it is the architectural style, the charm of patios, the three great concrete palms which dominate the skyline commemorating the glory of the Liberation fighters, or the fragrances - a mixture of citrus mingled with the peppery smell of spices, Algiers brings pleasure to the senses and a feeling of excited animation. Of all the quarters of Algiers, the Casbah is the most beautiful, but also the most in need of repair. Casbah, the word meaning "fortress" is the old original city near the port hidden away in narrow alleys. At the moment it cannot be visited alone. Heavily guarded and suspected as being a possible nest of crime it houses a poor, overcrowded population, often living 8 or 9 to a room. Many hope that they will be moving to modern houses under the vast new rehabilitation scheme, but for others home could never have been elsewhere. Visitors need time to discover its complex, narrow, twisty streets and dark alleys. Through the dull doorways, brown with age, there is often a bright mosaic-covered fountain, in a small arched court, leading off to small well-scrubbed, marble floored rooms. The Casbah, built in Ottoman times, is such a labyrinth that even its inhabitants admit to getting lost at times. It should not be missed. Walk down from the last vestiges of the thick wall built to protect the city, through the tortuous alleys, to discover the vast, colorful open air markets in the old city center. |
|
Table of Contents (1) His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria (2) Country has resources and potential and is moving toward peace (3) History (4) Stability predictable for Algeria (5) Terrorism is costly - in lives and finances (7) Despite being free, press sometimes is silenced (8) Local bidders and foreign investors being courted (9) Despite previous problems, economic future is bright (10) Institutions (11) Director-General sees light as country comes out of tunnel (12) Housing shortage creates enormous market for homebuilders (13) Bureaucracy remains a major barrier to investment (14) Algeria is gateway to Africa (15) A country made for Tourism (16) A Rich Heritage in Arts and Crafts (17) Casbah's unique beauty to be restored (18) Algeria Facts (19) Privatization goes forward with progress, challenges (20) Country rich in resources, civilization, ambition (21) World renowned hotel carries proud past of history and wealth (22) Fight against terrorism has helped world (23) Banking reforms, foreign investment moving quickly (24) World Bank senses new optimism in Algeria (25) Algerian-American Chamber of Commerce meets to promote trade relations (26) Ministry of Labor promotes programs to reduce unemployment (27) Agriculture potential is tremendous, but investment is needed (28) Algeria adopts new programs to solve water shortages (29) Wine growing provides export income (30) Petroleum companies aware of potential says Sonatrach CEO (31) About Sonatrach (32) Bright future ahead for oil industry (33) Huge oil resources will last for many years (34) The place of small industry in the economy (35) Country's first Bourse to open soon (36) ONAB encourages investors to grasp potential in Algeria (37) The El-Aurassi Hotel plans to go public (38) Enad hopes to partner with leading detergent producers (39) ENGG strives to improve refining system and attract foreign investment (40) Agricultural Bank plans expansion (41) Vehicle manufacturer seeks further investment |
|
If
ever there was a country whose immensity defied the imagination and offered so much in the
way of varied opportunities for tourism, Algeria is it.
