Algerian Radio
The Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Mrs. Houria Meddahi, received the President of the Italian-Algerian Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. Andrea Mascaretti, and his accompanying delegation. According to a ministry statement issued this Tuesday, both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.
The meeting took place in the presence of the President of the Algerian-Italian Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. Kamel Laouisset, officials from the sector and its affiliated agencies, as well as the Chargé d'Affaires at the Italian Embassy in Algiers.
On this occasion, Mrs. Meddahi affirmed the readiness to “strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Italian partner and intensify efforts to promote the tourism sector in Algeria, in light of the significant convergence between the two friendly countries and the depth of their existing bilateral relations.”
During the meeting, Ms. Meddahi outlined the adopted strategy to revitalize the sector, in accordance with the vision of the President of the Republic of Algeria, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which is based on “promoting tourism as one of the pillars of development and economic diversification in the country.”
She pointed out that this vision aims to “preserve Algeria's cultural heritage, which reflects the history of human civilization, as well as its civilizational assets that make it one of the most prominent, distinct, and unique destinations for authentic tourism, especially given its tangible heritage inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.”
In a related context, the Minister discussed ways of bilateral cooperation, noting the interest in “benefiting from Italian expertise in the fields of innovation for tourism marketing, tourism training, and enhancing the skills of Algerian artisans in digital marketing and sales techniques.”
The statement added that she also discussed “ways to incentivize Italian tourism investments in Algeria, particularly in the hotel sector and tourist resorts, especially given the opportunities and facilities provided under the Algerian Investment Law.”
For his part, Mr. Mascaretti expressed the “readiness of the parliamentary group to coordinate with official Italian authorities to prepare a framework for cooperation in the Algerian tourism sector, particularly regarding tourism operators, travel agencies, and investment in the sector.”
Both sides concluded by emphasizing the “importance of boosting bilateral cooperation to a level that reflects Algerian-Italian relations,” through the “continuous Algerian presence in tourism forums organized in Italy, and Italian participation in major tourism events within the sector in Algeria.”
