Following Laos and Thailand’s decision to grant visas for Sri Lankans, Algeria has also taken a similar step by simplifying travel procedures for visitors from 55 countries, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Malaysia.
Introducing a new visa-free travel policy in this North African country is notably experiencing a significant surge in its tourism industry. The move aimed to attract international tourists who drove to this lovely country, VisaGuide.World reports.
55 Destinations Worldwide That Enjoy Visa-Free Access to Algeria
As a result, due to the newly facilitated measures, citizens of the following 55 countries are now eligible to travel to Algeria, without being subject to visa requirements at first:
- Angola
- Barbados
- Benin
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Hong Kong (SAR China)
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Mauritiana
- Mali
- Micronesia
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Niue
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Vincent
- The Grenadines
- Suriname
- Syria
- The Gambia
- Tunisia
- Bolivia
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde Islands
- Comoro Islands
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran, Jordan
- Lebanon
- Macao (SAR China)
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Palau Islands
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Tuvalu
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
- Kenya
- Sri Lanka
Algeria’s move to grant visa-free access is expected to strengthen the figures in its tourism sector as they are now on a growth trajectory, contributing about 7.2 billion dollars to the country’s GDP in 2021, marking a 33 percent increase from last year. Tourism for the country is a key player in local economic development, previously attracting around 3.7 million domestic tourists each year to its hotels. In addition, international tourist numbers reached 3.3 million, including many Algerians from the diaspora returning for family visits. As a result, this new policy will likely increase these numbers substantially.
Algeria Increases Number of Airlines for Domestic & International Air Travel Demand
Domestic tourism is also a major driver of Algeria’s travel industry, as most tourists are domestic travelers. Before the 2020 downturn, about 3.7 million domestic tourists stayed in hotels and similar accommodations annually. In comparison, Algeria welcomed 3.3 million foreign tourists, with around 1.2 million Algerians from diaspora families.
Algeria’s growth is not limited to its tourism sector, but also extends to its airlines. Air Algerie, the national carrier, has been on an upward trajectory, handling over three million outbound passengers last year.
Mainly serving domestic routes, Tassili Airlines focuses on the needs of the oil and gas industry while also contributing to regional connectivity. It handles around one million passengers per year.