The Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Houria Meddahi, reaffirmed this Monday Algeria’s commitment to supporting tourism development and encouraging sustainable investment in the sector, during an official meeting with Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat, President of the Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Council (CESCE) of the Republic of Chad. The meeting took place at the ministry headquarters in Algiers, as part of the working visit of the Chadian delegation, which is running from January 31 to February 3, 2026.
The meeting also brought together several ministry executives, representatives of public establishments under supervision such as the Hotel, Tourism, and Thermalism Group, the National Algerian Tourism Office (ONAT), as well as members of the Chadian Council. It laid the groundwork for constructive dialogue on strengthening bilateral cooperation in tourism and handicrafts.
During this meeting, Minister Meddahi emphasized that the development of Algeria’s tourism sector is part of implementing the presidential vision, which considers tourism a strategic sector for economic diversification and creating sustainable jobs. According to her, Algeria pays particular attention to improving tourism infrastructure, modernizing the hotel sector, and promoting an authentic tourism offer aligned with national identity and contemporary requirements.
The minister presented the national strategy aimed at developing Algeria’s hotel capacity, with an ambitious target of 230,000 beds by 2029, compared to 150,000 currently, spread across 1,465 establishments. The goal is to welcome up to eight million tourists, while diversifying the hotel offer to promote family tourism and encourage investors to actively participate in creating varied and modern accommodations.
For his part, Ahmed Maboudo Mohamed highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation ties with Algeria, particularly in the tourism sector, emphasizing the considerable potential of both countries to develop sustainable and attractive tourism. He stressed the need to leverage Algerian experiences and create concrete synergies to stimulate sector growth in Chad.
The meeting led to in-depth discussions on the complementarity of the two countries in tourism and handicrafts. The officials agreed to establish long-term cooperation plans, including organizing official visits, sharing expertise, joint training, and building capacities in promotion, hotel management, and valorizing handicraft products.
Special emphasis was placed on the role of handicrafts in tourism development. The minister recalled that handicraft products, particularly African ones, are not limited to traditional know-how but also serve as vectors of history and cultural identity. She insisted on the importance of valorizing this heritage to enhance tourism attractiveness and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Minister Meddahi also reminded that Algeria allocates significant budgets to tourism development zones and encourages investments aimed at diversifying the hotel offer and promoting modern, responsible family tourism. She stressed that sector development must respect international standards while preserving cultural authenticity and national identity.
In her closing remarks, the minister highlighted Algeria’s African policy, recalling that President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune places Africa at the heart of the national strategy, affirming that “Africa is the future.” She called on Chadian investors and all partners to “discover Algeria as an authentic tourist destination and collaborate to build a responsible and sustainable tourism offer.”
The discussions between the two officials demonstrated a shared willingness to consolidate bilateral cooperation in tourism and traditional handicrafts, emphasizing expertise exchange, training, and organizing joint events. This partnership aims to leverage the unique cultural and environmental assets of each country to develop high-quality, competitive, and sustainable African tourism.