The three land border crossings in the Jendouba region â Melloula, Bebouch and Jelil â recorded a record influx of Algerian visitors the day before yesterday, Friday. More than 13,000 visitors passed through these posts in a single day, out of a total of 100,000 Algerian tourists welcomed since the start of the month. This represents an increase of more than 95% compared to the same period last year, reports the TAP agency.
Since the start of the year and until last Saturday, more than 1.5 million Algerian tourists have been recorded at these border crossings, and the annual total could reach 1.6 million, according to the regional tourism delegate, Issa Marouani.
During the first ten days of this month, more than 4,000 visitors stayed in different tourist units, accumulating more than 7,500 nights spent. From January 1 to December 10, the total number of tourists welcomed in the Jendouba region exceeds 231,000.
Attractiveness of the region
According to witnesses and Algerian tourists, this increase can be explained by two main factors. The first is the advantages granted by Algeria to its citizens, in particular the possibility of benefiting from a travel allowance of 750 euros per year, provided they do not return to their country for a week. The second factor concerns the attractiveness of the tourist region of Tabarka and Ain Draham, renowned for its natural, environmental, health and sporting riches.
Accommodation provision in the region is expected to strengthen next year with the completion of three hotel projects â including a five-star hotel and two residences â which will provide around 8,000 additional beds. To this will be added the future development of the Oulad Hilal tourist zone, which will replace the Altal region project, suspended for administrative reasons linked to land acquisition.
According to official reports, investment intentions in the tourism sector in Tabarka exceed 600 million dinars for next year, with the creation of three five-star hotels. Local and foreign investors have expressed interest in taking advantage of the potential of the region and its numerous natural and tourism resources.
