Pursuits
Beaches But Few Bathers: Algeria Seeks Tourists at a Tough Time
- Oil slump spurs investment, but neighbors have a headstart
- Civil war leaves legacy of `country closed in on itself'
Tourists visit a beach in Tipaza.
Photographer: Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
With its ancient Roman ruins and golden beaches set against the lush hills of western Algeria, Tipaza should be a star of the Mediterranean tourist industry. Its proximity to North Africa’s conflicts, decrepit hotels and erratic water supply help explain why it’s not.
Unlike in neighboring Morocco and Tunisia, Algeria’s attractions were ignored for decades as it lived off its oil and gas, and civil war kept holidaymakers away. Faced with the plunging price of crude, it’s now seeking to tap other assets and build a tourist industry.