Toumi harms tourism in Algeria

Algeria is the only country where hotels do not meet their commitments due to political decisions

• According to reliable source of Ennahar, Minister of Culture, Khalida Toumi had issued last Wednesday, an order to the managers of major hotels in Algiers, notifying them to free rooms and suites in hotels, from the first to 24 July.
  
  These rooms and suites will be reserved for guests of the second Pan-African Festival to be held in Algeria during the period from 03 to 20 July.
  
  According to credible sources of Ennahar, the hotel “Algiers,” Saint George, Aurassi and other hotels have started to inform their customers, tourists and foreign businessmen of the need to vacate the rooms during the period indicated. The hotels mentioned have also received order not to accept or to book rooms during this period.
  
  The rooms and suites in these hotels will be retained for African guests attending the Pan-African festival next month. Even large rooms where marriages and feasts are organized in summer were not excluded from the decision of the Minister of Culture.
  
  The hotels in Algiers, such as the “Sofitel”, “Sheraton” and “Mercury” contacted by Ennahar who tried to inquire about the possibility of booking during this period, confirmed through their information and booking cells the inability to make a reservation during the festival on the grounds that these rooms and suites will be reserved for African guests who will attend the second Pan African festival.
  
  In addition, bookings halls for the same period have all been cancelled, which certainly will create inconvenience to families.
  
  The decision of the Minister of Culture will cause huge losses to tourism at the time when the Ministry of Tourism has awarded $ 2 million for a film aimed at the revival of tourism sector in Algeria. The advertising film which traces the challenges of Algeria in the field of tourism was broadcast on major foreign television channels.
  
  Ennahar / Dalila B. Sami S.