Rencontre ministérielle entre les secteurs de la Culture et du Tourisme pour renforcer le développement touristique durable
Summary of the High-Level Coordination Meeting on Cultural and Tourism Integration
On Thursday, Alger, the Minister of Culture and Arts, Zouhir Ballalou, and the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Houria Meddahi, co-chaired a high-level coordination meeting aimed at revitalizing Algeria’s national strategy for integrating cultural resources into sustainable development plans. This meeting, attended by officials from both ministries, experts, and cultural and tourism professionals, aimed to emphasize the increasing recognition of the complementary relationship between culture and tourism.
Strategic Importance of Culture and Tourism
During the opening session, Minister Ballalou stressed the commitment of the cultural sector to position both tangible and intangible cultural heritage as an economic driver. He emphasized a holistic approach that relies on institutional coordination, modernization of regulatory frameworks, and the use of digital technology to enhance heritage appreciation without compromising authenticity.
Minister Meddahi echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for stronger coordination with the culture sector to promote domestic tourism, thereby supporting local economic dynamics and creating wider investment and employment opportunities. She pointed to the Sahara’s tourism potential and its significance for attracting international tourists, advocating for an integrated vision to exploit Algeria’s rich civilizational and tourist resources.
Technical Presentations and Workshops
The meeting featured technical presentations focusing on the digitization of cultural resources, the role of festivals, and policies encouraging collaboration across sectors. Five thematic workshops were also organized, addressing topics such as training, governance, tourism diversification, site valorization, and heritage protection.
Key Recommendations
At the conclusion of the meeting, a series of recommendations were made, including:
- Joint National Commission Creation: Establish a commission formed by both ministries to create a roadmap for integrating cultural resources into sustainable tourism for various timeframes (short, medium, and long-term).
- Support for Cultural Site Tourism: Promote tourism activities at cultural and historical sites included in thematic tourism circuits.
- Cultural and Tourism Synergy: Enhance the role of both fields in bolstering Algeria’s soft power while strengthening its regional and international presence.
- Cinema Collaboration: Collaborate with film production companies to shoot films at tourist sites, positioning Algeria as an international filming destination. Also promote national film production to tourists, especially foreign visitors.
- Integration into National Plans: Incorporate all forms of cultural resources into the National Tourism Plan 2030.
- Digital Applications: Develop joint digital applications to promote and market thematic cultural circuits.
- Site Protection: Increase cooperation to safeguard heritage sites.
- Tour Agency Involvement: Encourage travel agencies to include museum and historical site visits in their offerings.
- Local Community Engagement: Involve local populations and associations in executing strategies to promote archaeological and heritage sites.
Conclusion
This gathering marked an important step towards achieving a unified strategy that leverages Algeria’s rich cultural and natural heritage to stimulate tourism and economic growth. The recommendations aim to create an integrated approach that not only enhances tourist experiences but also supports the local community and preserves the authenticity of Algeria’s cultural identity. By fostering collaboration between the cultural and tourism sectors, Algeria seeks to enhance its allure as a desirable international tourist destination.
