TUNISA: Air Traffic, Rail And Bus Brought To A Halt By Strike

A nationwide public sector strike in Tunis on Thursday brought rail, bus and air traffic to a standstill, and hit ports, schools and hospitals.

The strike organised by the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) is the biggest since the assassination of opposition politician Chokri Belaid in February 2013.

All flights in and out of the North African country's main airport were cancelled and check-in counters closed. Other public services, including ports, public transport, and hospitals were also disrupted.

The core demands of the 2011 revolution were employment, the betterment of the Tunisian economy and an end to corruption. However, none of these demands have been met. This is why today we are here, Lassad Hamdi, one of the protesters said.

The UGTT, which boasts more than half a million members, about 5 per cent of Tunisia’s total population, and a branch in every province, has been engaged in a months long stand off with the Tunisian government over the need to increase pay in the public sector.

International lenders, including the International Monetary Fund, have urged Tunis to undertake a series of brisk public sector reforms, including the freezing of wages and the sale of state-owned companies, to reduce the country’s budget deficit.

The union and the government have engaged in negotiations in an attempt to reach a solution but so far no compromise has been reached.

The government have chosen the confrontation with the public servants and we are ready, UGTT leader Nourredine Taboubi told thousands of people gathered in front of UGTT headquarters on Thursday.

We will study on Saturday the next steps and we will step up our action and will not back down, he added without giving details on a possible escalation.

He accused the government of being afraid to move a little finger without the green light of the IMF.

Thousands of people gathered at the national union headquarters in Tunis and marched through the capital's main thoroughfare, carrying signs reading "Get Out!" and "The People Want the Fall of the Regime."

Rallies were also held in other cities, including Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the 2011 revolution, Gafsa, Jendouba and Sfax.

A public servant said that she is taking part in demonstrations to denounce the high cost of living.

A regional coordinator with the secular left-wing Popular Front coalition slammed the government’s inability to solve the crisis.

The current government has no plans, either economically, culturally or politically. As a government of regressive parties... It doesn't have any new ideas, he said.

Police surrounded the protest site but did not clash with demonstrators.

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed warned that the strike would result in a considerable cost to an already fragile economy and might push the government to seek further foreign loans with tough conditions.

Speaking on public television Wataniya 1 on Wednesday night, Mr Chahed said: We did everything possible to avoid the strike in presenting proposals that improve purchasing power while at the same time taking into account the country's capabilities.

He invited the unions back to the negotiating table after Thursday's strike.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Are UAE Tourists Exempted From Traffic Fines?

A card with a Dubai Police logo has gone viral on social media, saying that tourists and visitors who flout traffic rules could be let off.

The General Department of Traffic of the Dubai Police denied rumours that the visitors and tourists in the UAE are exempted from minor traffic fines. The denial came in the wake of a card going viral on social media that the Dubai Police will pardon visitors who caught by radars.

The card, which was circulated in social media, read as follows: "Dear driver, as you are a guest in the UAE and came on visit visa to Dubai, you are welcomed and we wish you a good stay. We are sorry to inform you that you are caught by radars as you did not abide by traffic law. Despite that, we will not issue you a traffic fine. We do not want to issue a fine to you, but our goal is your safety."

Major-General Mohamed Saif Al Zafeen, Head of the Traffic Prosecution Council and Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police for Operations Affairs, said that the Dubai Police did not circulate the card that had a Dubai Police logo on it.

"A few years ago, the Dubai Traffic Department had exempted tourists who commit minor traffic violations from paying fines to make them happy. However, the Dubai Police have not taken any such decision recently and it is just a rumour. If there is any such decision, that will be announced by the Dubai Police through its official channels."

Maj.-Gen. Al Zafeen urged the public to confirm the news before circulating that to avoid legal action.

Citizens of UAE and India are eligible to visit Russia's Far East without visas, Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced on Monday.

Medvedev said tourists and businessmen from 18 nations can visit the Russian Far East without visas.

The list of 18 countries comprises UAE, India, Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, Iran, Qatar, China, North Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Mexico, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and Japan.

"I have recently approved the list of countries, whose nationals can take advantage of the preferential regime. Businessmen and tourists will not need to undergo the traditional procedure of Russian visas receipt," the Prime Minister said. It will be enough for foreigners "to enter their data on a special website in the Internet," Medvedev said.

"We are proactively forming the modern infrastructure and creating special regimes in the Far East; the law on visits to the Vladivostok free port was approved in March," Medvedev said.

Cancellation of visa procedures for tourists and businessmen "will promote growth of investment and tourist attractiveness of the Far East," the prime minister said. The region will earn more money from tourist traffic growth, he added.

Eighteen countries from various regions selected by the reciprocity principle were included into the list, Medvedev said. "This is not because these states are situated at a closer or longer distance - we are appropriately introducing bilateral agreements on visa-free travel for those ready to use such an approach for us," he was quoted as saying by TASS.

MOROCCO: Morocco Success In Fighting Terrorism

As German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Tunisia to discuss refugees and terrorism, Morocco is showing its regional neighbors how it's dealing with the latter. Willemijn de Koning reports from Rabat.

It is promoting itself as a destination with sun, sand and sea. Using traditional Gnawa music, a rich Moroccan repertoire of ancient African Islamic spiritual religious songs and rhythms,it underlines the cultural heritage of the country. Morocco has lots of untouched nature and many different landscapes.

The country has a lot to offer - and yet in the tourist regions fear is growing that visitor numbers have been on a steady decline. Morocco is looking for a new strategy to attract more tourists to the country.

In 2003 and 2011 Morocco was targeted by terrorist attacks in Casablanca and Marrakesh - a shock to the country in the Maghreb region. "Morocco was really surprised by those attacks, especially in Casablanca," says Mohammed Benhammou, an adviser to the Moroccan government on how to fight terrorism.

With his help, the North African country has been pouring its resources into fighting radical Islam and terrorism to make sure such attacks are not repeated.

One of those instruments is a new law that aims to crack down on terrorism and related activities. Anyone potentially preparing terrorist activities such as traveling to countries like Libya, Syria or Iraq and carrying out attacks either in those countries or in Morocco will face jail.

This is where Morocco is going a different way compared to its neighbors, keeping an eye on it nationals not only at home but also abroad.

The Moroccan FBI
To be able to do that efficiently, Morocco launched its own version of the FBI, the Bureau Central d'Investigation Judiciaire (BCJI). Since it started its work in 2015, it has reportedly uncovered 40 terrorist cells and arrested almost 600 people.

The numbers are impressive but, says Benhammou, they come as no surprise. "They work really well together with other countries. That's important, because terrorism outside Morocco can also be dangerous for us.

For example, a little while ago terrorist suspects from Chad and Tangier were arrested because they were preparing attacks there. And we share all our information with European countries, because we all have the same enemy - terrorism," he told DW.

Indeed, Morocco was one of the countries to warn Germany about the Tunisian man who was behind the attack last year at a Christmas market in Berlin. But now more than ever the BCJI has to focus on it's own country. Ever since the "Islamic State" (IS) group began expanding in North Africa, Morocco has been facing an increasing threat.

According to Adelhak Khiame, director of the BCJI, IS is specifically targeting Morocco by sending people who are not known to the intelligence services to form sleeper cells. "They even try to brainwash young girls on the internet to recruit them for an attack here," Khiame said.

The BCJI says it recently uncovered a cell made up of mainly minor-aged girls.

The bureau is just one part of Morocco's strategy. In an attempt to nip the problem in the bud, the country is going back to school. In an effort to stop muslims from becoming extremists, the country has been educating its own imams for the past 10 years. In 2015 they took that one step further and opened an imam school where imams from all over the world can study and teach moderate Islam.

The school in Rabat currently hosts 250 Moroccans (100 of them are women) and 675 students from Mali, the Ivory Coast, France, Niger and French Guinea. Students are taught to accept different opinions and values.

"People have different religions and cultures. Therefore, we need dialogue and acceptence from all sides," the director of the school, Abdessalam Lazaar said.

But becoming an imam is not a cure-all. A lot of young people who are poor see life as a jihadist as an attractive alternative. The institute therefore tries to counter those developments by offering courses in economics, history, philosophy and French.

And those that do go on to preach in a mosque in Morocco are under strict vigilance, says Lazaar. "If someone exceeds the limits of the state's religious understanding, then he must be excluded."

Marocco is so vigilant
Vigilance is key in Morocco and people on the streets are aware that it is necessary. "Not only to stop terrorism, but also to protect the monarchy," a young man from Rabat, who wished to stay anonymous said.

"A friend who worked for the police, once told me that I must not talk so much about problems in the country and just do my thing."

A young woman from Casablanca shrugs her shoulders. "Everybody in Morocco is aware that you are being watched. If they have to do that to stop terrorists, we're okay with that, we have nothing to hide."

The young man from Rabat agrees, but confesses that sometimes he's a bit afraid.

"I have a friend who has some weird ideas and put them on Facebook. A lot of his friends unfriended him because they - like me - don't want to be watched because of him. I have nothing to hide - but you don't know what they think. And here you don't have the same rights as in other countries."

Government advisor Benhammou says Morocco's methods are working. Aside from the arrests, fewer people from Morocco sign up with IS than from other North African or Middle East countries.

According to The Soufan Group, an international strategic consultancy firm, around 1,200 Moroccans traveled to Syria as of October 2015, while 6,000 came from Tunisia. "And bear in mind that Tunisia is four times smaller then Morocco," said Benhammou.

MOROCCO: Tourism Still Stagnant But Government Struggling To Revive It

Morocco's key tourism sector barely grew last year amid security challenges, but operators are hoping Chinese and Russian visitors will boost their fortunes in the coming years.

While political turmoil and jihadist attacks have battered the sector in Egypt and Tunisia, Morocco registered 10 million visitors last year, according to the Moroccan Tourism Observatory. That was a barely perceptible rise of 1.5 percent from 2015, it said.

But hoteliers in the narrow streets of the capital Rabat's old city were cautiously positive. "Last year was better than 2015. And the first two months of 2017 augured an even better year," said Hanane, manager of a local guesthouse.

Tourists are easy to spot wandering through Rabat's old city with its craft stalls, Andalusian-style houses and a 12th-century kasbah overlooking the Atlantic. But while tourism revenues rose 3.4 percent to $6.3 billion (5.9 billion euros) in 2016, visitor arrivals to Morocco have fallen far short of an ambitious official target of 20 million per year by 2020.

A growing number of visits by Moroccans who live abroad - counted as tourists when they come home - accounted for much of the sector's buoyancy. Foreign visitor arrivals last year were down by 0.9 percent. Karim, owner of a travel agency in commercial capital Casablanca, said more work was needed to drum up new business.

"The situation is pushing us to look for new markets outside Europe," he said. "But overall, it can be said that there was a slight recovery in 2016."


Authorities are hoping for an influx of Russian and Chinese tourists, who currently account for just one percent of total visitors. That is far behind the French, who make up almost a third of arrivals - a figure that includes many of Moroccan origin. "Europeans still top the list, but the number of Chinese visitors is growing," Hanane said.

"Since visas for the Chinese were abolished in June, a door has been opened."

Tourism remains a vital pillar of the Moroccan economy and the country's second biggest employer, after agriculture. The sector accounts for 10 percent of national income and, along with exports and remittances from Moroccans overseas, it is one of the country's main sources of foreign currency.

Former imperial city Marrakesh, with its UNESCO-listed old town, and the coastal town of Agadir have long been key attractions. They remain popular - in contrast to Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt, where visitor numbers have plummeted following the Arab Spring uprisings and repeated jihadist attacks. Morocco has not experienced an attack since a 2011 bombing in Marrakesh's famed Jamaa El Fna Square, which killed 17 people, mainly European tourists.

Today, security forces stand guard at Morocco's main tourist sites. The government, a key security partner of European countries, regularly announces it has dismantled jihadist cells. But while the kingdom remains safer than other countries in the region, visitor numbers have stubbornly refused to rise.

The local press calls the sector's performance "lacklustre and disappointing" compared with a 2010 plan to double arrivals. Back then, "Vision 2020" envisioned creating 200,000 new hotel beds and attracting 20 million visitors a year by the end of the decade. Since then, "many international factors" had disrupted the government's efforts, Observatory chief Said Mouhid said. "We will not reach 20 million in 2020, for sure, but it remains a symbolic figure to mobilise operators," he said. He defended last year's performance as "respectable and positive". "We are in a difficult international context, marked by many obstacles to travel," he said. "These figures prove the resilience of Moroccan tourism, even if they remain below our ambitions."

Plans For A Continental Passport

President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, to attend the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

The summit will be conducted under the theme: "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in the Youth".

The AU Assembly will be preceded, on 29 January 2017, by a retreat of AU Heads of State and Government, where the leaders will consider a report to be presented by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, on institutional reforms of the AU aimed at enhancing the continental body's governance systems.

Amongst other things, the Assembly will consider and deliberate on reports focusing on the state of peace and security on the continent, the African Peer Review Mechanism and Climate Change.

The Assembly will also consider the 2016 Annual Report of the AU Commission, which is expected to focus on the implementation and domestication of Agenda 2063, economic integration, the continental passport as well as peace support and peace-keeping missions.

Integration on the African continent, through business and travel, is a major focus point for global and continental leaders at the moment.

In November last year, new research released by the global travel technology provider indicated that African air travel spend is expected to rise 24% with the introduction of the pan-African passport in 2018.

The new passport will enable African travellers to visit other countries on the continent without a visa, and will mean a seamless travel experience for especially business travellers on the continent.

A key obstacle to the much-anticipated passport is the access to biometric systems, needed to register the passports. Currently only 13 of the 54 AU members offer biometric passports. Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana and Tunisia, for example, do not have them. South Africa is currently on a mission to roll new biometric capturing system out with trials being piloted across SA's major international airports.

TURKEY: Terror Attacks Cause Suffering To Turkey's Hospitality, Tourism And Travel Industries

Stunning architecture, a rich and ancient history, beautiful beaches and a bustling urban nightlife have long drawn tourists from around the world to Turkey and its capital, Istanbul.

But after a recent spate of violence and terrorism in the country, its tourism industry, an important part of the nation’s economy, is suffering.

Tourism accounted for a little more than 12 percent of Turkey’s gross domestic product in 2014, significantly higher than the global average of roughly 9 percent, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

But, according to a bulletin published by the Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the country saw a massive, 30 percent dropoff in the number of visits by foreigners in January through November 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

In contrast, the 2015 period was down just 1 percent from January to November 2014.

Gül Taner, a sales manager for GurTur Travel, an agency based out of Harbiye, a neighborhood in Istanbul, said that in the 25 years her company has been in business, the country has never gone through anything like the violence in 2016.

“Until last year we never seen attacks like this,” Taner said. “This is a different chapter in Turkish history.”

“Terrorist attacks are negatively affecting all sectors of Turkish life right now and not just tourism,” she said.

A New Year’s attack in an Istanbul nightclub left 39 dead, a massacre for which ISIS claimed responsibility. ISIS was also blamed by Turkish authorities for an assault at the Istanbul airport in June that killed 41 and the terror group claimed responsibility for at least two other deadly bombings in the city in 2016.

In the mass shooting at the Reina nightclub on New Year’s morning, many of those killed or injured were foreigners from a diverse array of countries including Belgium, France, India, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, according to Turkish media.

Taner said she’s hopeful that the spate of terror attacks will slow that visitors hesitant visiting the country now will change their minds.

“I will always wish good things for my country,” she said.

Terror Fears Send Tourists Away From Europe In Flocks

The fear of terrorism following the Brussels and Paris attacks is driving tourists away from Europe, while Brits are choosing “safe” destinations closer to home over fears of attacks in North Africa and Turkey, industry leaders say.

Eurostar, the high-speed rail operator linking the UK to mainland Europe, says passenger numbers have dwindled as people from Asia and the US are too afraid to travel due to perceived terrorism threats.

Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said “People coming from North America and south-east Asia, particularly Japan, are fearful of coming to Europe at all. They don’t really understand what’s going on and would rather go elsewhere altogether.”

Passenger numbers fell 3 percent in March to 2.2 million, compared to the same period in 2015, Eurostar says.

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics also show visitor numbers to normally popular countries in Europe have declined between 12 and 35 percent in the first three months of 2016.

Tourism lecturer at Sydney’s University of Technology, David Beirman, says terrorism fears and the Syrian refugee crisis have undoubtedly made Europe less attractive to Australians.

“You hear of terrorism in one part of Europe and the perception seems to spread that other parts of Europe are also dangerous,” Beirman told Australian media.

“When there is a bit of uncertainty in a long-haul destination, people tend to travel closer to home to places they perceive as more welcoming and safer.”

Terrorism expert Greg Barton, from Melbourne’s Deakin University, says the nature of the Paris and Brussels attacks was particularly frightening for travelers.

“In Paris, what we saw was people doing ordinary things on a Friday night who were targeted. That was scary for everyone.

“Then the Brussels Airport attack made people question where they would be safe if not in an airport. That tipped the balance for some people.”

Meanwhile, travel agents Thomas Cook’s stock dropped to a three-year low as poor travel forecasts stemming from a fear of terror attacks coincided with the disappearance of an EgyptAir plane over the Mediterranean Sea.

The company says bookings for the summer period are down 5 percent as it has been unable to sell alternative vacations to customers unwilling to travel to Turkey, its second most important destination.

Britons are now flocking to “safe” holiday spots nearer to home, like Spain, over previously popular Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey.

But environmentalists in Ibiza are warning hotels, beaches, roads, water and sewer systems may not be able to cope with the influx of tourists this summer.

British holiday companies have cancelled flights to a number of areas in north Africa and Turkey, including once popular Sharm el-Sheikh, where terrorists have targeted tourists.

Instead they have offered more holidays to Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Balearic Islands.

Cruise ships are also set to stop in these locations more frequently, with 524 vessels expected in Palma, and Ibiza predicting a 24 percent increase on last year in cruise ships stopping there.

Chinese Tourists Invade Africa

When Chinese-looking persons enter the Nairobi City Market or Massai Market Fair in Kenya’s capital, they are often greeted with “Ni Hao” as they pass shops and stands. Some local shop-keepers have a broader Mandarin vocabulary, which helps them sell African woodcarvings, fabric, or other local souvenirs to Chinese tourists.

China has recently become the largest outbound tourist market in the world. The number of Chinese tourists traveling worldwide has grown to over a 100 million, likely to double by 2020. In 2013 Chinese tourists spent a total $102 billion dollars on their trips.

Those numbers are expected to keep rising. Many Chinese are weary of traditional destinations, such as Europe and North America. So they are turning to Africa as a great place to spend an exotic vacation.

The numerous bilateral exchanges between China and Africa have encouraged Chinese tourism in African countries. In 2008 only 2.8 % of Chinese tourists chose Africa as a destination.

In 2014, according to the China Outbound Travel Development Report, that number has reached 9.4 %. The annual growth rate of Chinese tourist traffic to Africa has been 50% since 2010 – higher than to any other part of the world.

The most popular destination for Chinese tourists is South Africa; with direct flights currently available between Beijing and Johannesburg. Derek Hanekom, Tourism Minister of South Africa, says China is one of the important sources of tourists for his country and pledges to help create more conveniences to welcome Chinese travelers.

Other destinations popular among the Chinese are Egypt, Kenya, Cameroon, Senegal, Algeria, Angola, Mauritius, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.

Since the Chinese government has granted Kenya an Approved Destination Status for outbound tourism in 2004, the number of Chinese tourists going there has risen. In 2013, 37,000 Chinese visited Kenya. The same year, on a visit to China, Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta said his country’s tourism industry had set the goal of attracting a record number of 1.3 million Chinese.

Tourism in Kenya is popular in the summer when migration of animals can be observed in its national parks. When China Central Television (CCTV) aired live broadcasts of the migration of rhinos, zebras, and wilder beasts in 2012-13, that became a well-known wonder in China. This has attracted thousands of Chinese during the summer season to Kenya.

Zhang Hongtao, director of AA lodges in Kenya, said, “Now Chinese tourists book hotels six months in advance to get a room nearby even when the accommodation price doubles or triples.”

The majority of Chinese tourists prefer big organized group trips within budget. About 10% of them, however, are high-end travelers who spend 4-5 times more money than the average tourist. People in this category travel in smaller groups and avoid rough roads by taking charter flights to national parks.

They use secluded private lodges instead of hotels. While in Europe they may buy luxury brands, in South Africa their interests are diamonds. Some of Kenya’s tour-operators, including Safari Collection, Governor’s Camp, and Loisaba Wilderness, cooperate with Chinese counterparts to promote luxury services.

There are some important tips from experts, which would be helpful to Africans in their attempts to attract more Chinese tourists and make their experience more enjoyable:
1.African governments should make tourism a greater priority on their national agenda by taking the following steps:
a). Improve safety measures around tourist sites.
b). Enhance tourism-related infrastructure.
c). Ease visa procedures for Chinese travelers.
d). Spend more on tourism promotion, which brings much easier and quicker economic returns than industrial investments. Currently, only few African countries, such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Morocco have set up tourist promoting agencies in China. If the Chinese overcome the stereotypical international fear of travel in Africa and realize what a great experience it could be, the number of their visits there would skyrocket.

2.African service and hospitality sector needs to:
a). Hire more Chinese-speakers. Many Chinese business travelers might know English, but their families members who come on a safari often might not.

b). Offer Chinese food at National Park lodges, porridge and noodles for breakfast, complimentary green tea, and hot water – all good gestures of Chinese hospitality. Many National Park lodges in Kenya, for example do not offer any Chinese food. Some Chinese tourists, especially seniors, may enjoy their safaris, but can’t wait to return to Nairobi for Chinese food.

Even though Chinese travelers, like others, might sometimes be discouraged by problems including the Ebola epidemic in 2013-14 or an occasional terrorist assault, Chinese tourism in Africa will flourish. Yang Jinsong, a professor of international tourism at the China Tourism Academy, considers this phenomenon astounding. “The number of Chinese tourists to Africa will rise, and rise greatly” said Yang.

UK: Monarch Positive On 2016 Despite Delayed Bookings

British airline and travel group Monarch expects demand to grow next year, even though customers were delaying decisions on where to go because of security concerns.

Privately-held Monarch said it expected to report annual underlying earnings (EBIT) of more than GBP£40 million (USD$60 million) for the year ended October 31, after a turnaround plan helped it recover from last year's GBP£94 million loss.

Monarch, which competes with the likes of Thomas Cook and TUI, said in a statement that further progress was expected this year, calling the outlook for the winter good. "We do expect 2016 to be better than 2015," chief executive Andrew Swaffield told reporters.

The company's financial recovery comes despite Monarch being forced to cancel flights and packages in Tunisia and Egypt this year after the British government raised concerns over safety in the wake of attacks.

London Luton-based Monarch sells holidays and flights primarily to British holiday-makers travelling to destinations such as Spain, Italy and France. Since being acquired by Greybull Capital in 2014, it has focussed on cutting costs by shedding staff and ending loss-making routes.

Swaffield said the halting of holidays to Egypt's Sharm al-Sheikh resort and the Islamist militant attacks in Paris, both last month, meant customers were booking later, in line with what travel companies usually see after such incidents.

"There's an initial lack of bookings and then people get back to normal, but they don't book as far in advance as they normally do," he said.

That was in line with what other airlines such as easyJet have reported in relation to the attacks.

Monarch said in the absence of Tunisia and Egypt as destinations, its customers were booking flights to places such as the Eilat resort in Israel, adding mainland Spain and the Canary Islands were also popular.

British airlines and travel companies are waiting for the UK government to confirm it is safe to fly to Sharm al-Sheikh again. Monarch has cancelled its programme there until January 6.

ALGERIA: A Country Closed In On Itself, Yet Seeks Tourists

Tourists visit a beach in Tipaza

With its ancient Roman ruins and golden beaches set against the lush hills of western Algeria, Tipaza should be a star of the Mediterranean tourist industry. Its proximity to North Africa’s conflicts, decrepit hotels and erratic water supply help explain why it’s not.

Unlike in neighboring Morocco and Tunisia, Algeria’s attractions were ignored for decades as it lived off its oil and gas, and civil war kept holidaymakers away. Faced with the plunging price of crude, it’s now seeking to tap other assets and build a tourist industry.

“The sector was on the fringes of the national economy for many years,” Tourism Minister Amar Ghoul said in an interview in Algiers. “Our mission today is to place it at the heart.” Nearly 1,000 tourist projects worth at least $3.9 billion have been approved, he said.

One of the region’s least-visited countries, there’s enough potential to have lured Intercontinental Group and Holiday Inn this year. But more investment is needed and the drive to catch up is badly timed, as Islamist violence scares people away from the region.

“Algeria is only beginning to emerge as a destination, and this new beginning will be especially difficult during a time like this,” said Nadejda Popova, a travel analyst at market research firm Euromonitor International. “Unfortunately, the circumstances are against them.”

Morocco is the best example of what a tourism industry can do for a North African country: it employs 400,000 people there and accounts for about 10 percent of the $107 billion economy. Algeria’s need for cash is less pressing -- it has $158 billion of reserves, amassed from energy exports. Still, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s government wants new sources of jobs for a youthful population, and revenue for a welfare system that helps keep the peace.

Tunisia, has also succeeded in building a mass tourism industry, but one that’s in crisis after dozens of holidaymakers were shot dead on a beach by Islamist militants. Egypt has experienced a similar reverse since the Arab Spring of 2011.

All those governments have know how that Algeria lacks. They use YouTube and Twitter for marketing campaigns, while the website of Algeria’s Tourism Ministry is often offline. And even if tourists do reach the country, there’s a shortage of places for them to stay: the capital, Algiers, has just 19,000 hotel beds.

Similar obstacles exist in Tipaza, an hour’s drive west. Besides the region’s natural beauty there’s nothing to attract visitors, provincial governor Abdelkader Kadi said at a meeting of local leaders. Taps often dry up, hotels and archaeological sites aren’t maintained and the local museum is often closed, he said.

“If we continue like this, no tourist will ever come,” Kadi said. “We all need to change how we do things, and here in Tipaza we have to lead the way.”

That requires major investment so even as the government cut spending this year by 9 percent, it pledged not to ax infrastructure that will support a more diversified economy, including the construction of ports and airports.

Didier Boidin, vice president of InterContinental Hotels Group, is among the believers. “It’s a country that has a huge economic and touristic capital,” Boidin said in an interview in Algiers. InterContinental and Holiday Inn will partner to open their first hotel in the capital by March.

The government knows it has to build an image as well as infrastructure. It sponsored Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the French photographer whose coffee-table book “Earth From Above” was a bestseller, to film the country’s snow-capped mountains, Saharan sand dunes and world heritage sites from the sky.

Officials say they’re having some success: last year, Algeria recorded 2.7 million arrivals, the most ever. But almost all were Algerian expats, while others were descendants of the so-called pied-noir, French-speaking natives whose families emigrated before the country won independence from France in 1962.

Algerians endured another brutal conflict more recently, the civil war between Islamists and the army that ended in 2000. Its legacy is a deeper reason why Algeria struggles to attract foreign visitors, said Cherif Amouche, who worked as a tour guide before the industry was decimated by fighting.

“Security is important, of course, it’s a consideration for foreign tourists, but in the case of Algeria it isn’t the only one keeping them away,” he said. “Algeria has become a country closed in on itself.”

The government must train more hospitality workers -- Algeria has just one state tourism college, though there are also private centers -- and ease bureaucracy that makes visa applications long and expensive, Amouche said.

The Basilica of St. Augustine illustrates the problem. Perched on a green hill near the eastern coastal town of Annaba and overlooking ancient Roman ruins, it was among the most-visited sites before the civil war. Some pilgrims still come to celebrate the life of St. Augustine, who was born in Algeria in 354 AD and helped formulate the doctrine of original sin.

It was empty on a recent Saturday, though, even after the government, with help from France and Pope Benedict XVI, spent $7 million to restore it. Bachir Aami, who lives nearby, said the community was hoping that the investment would revive interest.

“It’s been restored but we still haven’t had many visitors,” he said. “Tourists would be so welcome.”

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia On Her Way To Become Chain Hotel Hub

Ethiopia is ranked among the top 10 leading markets in Africa for international chain hotel developments while Egypt leads the group with 18 new hotel chains being developed. Currently, Ethiopia gripped 8th position with 84 per cent hotel development pipeline and under construction disclosed the survey presented at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Addis Ababa.

The hotel business boom in Africa is topping the global market. Taking its share from the African market, Ethiopia has eight new global brand hotels under pipeline. Across the continent, 270 hotel chains are in the pipeline with the expected number of rooms, exceeding 30,000. Egypt is followed by Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Libya, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. Although the leading nations are mainly from northern Africa, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are gaining momentum in hotel development projects.

The information obtained from Bench Events indicates that, out of the top 10 global hotel operators, Hilton Worldwide leads with about 7,250 rooms in new hotels. However, Marriott leaps forward, leading with the development of 36 new hotels across the continent. Hotel Partners Africa also identified the top ten opportunities for investors keen to develop hotels in Africa. In West Africa, Nigeria presents the biggest opportunity, with the strongest economy on the continent with 34 branded hotel bedrooms per million population. Ghana with 59 bedrooms and Cote D’Ivoire with 61 bedrooms also present great opportunities with very strong demand.

Rwanda, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia present 29, 48, 63, 79, 122 bedrooms respectively. Despite the existence of great development potential in the region, the political and other risks tend to suggest that new international investment will be limited in the near future. However, Libya continues to attract investors despite the political unrest. Project returns also identified to bring high revenue.

Hotel values in the majority of these locations have been strongly growing. In African countries, 76 per cent of hotel investment returns have been higher than combined averages across other property investments. African countries have shown significant annual growth over the last six years including Zambia and Ghana at 6.5 per cent, Tanzania 6.3 per cent and Angola 6.2 per cent from the most under-supplied opportunity markets. Ethiopia is also listed among the top markets with several deals in process and new chain hotels venturing into the untapped hotel development. Hilton signed a deal for upscale Hilton Awassa Resort & Spa which is expected to open in 2020. Marriott International in partnership with Sunshine Business, opened Africa’s first Marriott Executive Apartments in Ethiopia’s capital.

“Hotel developments prove that it’s an exciting time for Ethiopia which is being transformed from the traditional market to a much developed and less riskier business environment. Investment by major operators evidenced that luxury is coming to the growing nation,” said Estelle Verdier, Managing Director of Jovago East and Southern Africa.

On the other hand, hosting the glamorized and biggest AHIF, which was attended by major global industry players and policy makers, placed Ethiopia in a better position to attract more investments. During the event, major brand operators such as Wyndham Group, Ramada Addis, Inter Continental Group, Accor Group, Western International Inn linked management agreements to run star-rated hotels which would open doors between end 2015 and 2018. The AHIF has also been seen as fresh negotiations expected to bring more chain hotels to Ethiopia.

Always Bargain Bargain Bargain

WITH summer upon us, foreign exchange specialist Travelex has created a useful guide to help tourists barter to their best in countries where such a practice is common, sometimes even expected. A look at some of the best advice for getting a good deal around the globe.

Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt

If you're visiting a North African country this summer, it's advised to haggle over things. Any price quoted in a souk (bazaar) should be generally divided by two, from which point some playful negotiating will lead you to your final price for beautiful leather goods, rugs and ceramics. Keep in mind, however, that the price of food is non-negotiable.

Bali

Don't hesitate to haggle over prices in Bali. It's actually practically a sport for the residents of this island in Indonesia. Beware that there is a "morning price" prior to noon, usually good for around 30% off. Make sure to leave the tourist areas, such as the town of Ubud, to find the best deals.

Spain

You can also hone your negotiating skills in Europe, southern Spain being a great training ground. You can find anything and everything at the markets, and the beginning and end of day are your best bets for scoring a discount. A neat little trick: go with a friend who pretends to dissuade you from buying and you may be offered an incentive to buy.

India

In India, you'll be negotiating a lot of the time. As a general rule, knock the price down by 70% and negotiate from there, aiming to not pay more than 30% less than the original price. Keep in mind that a merchant's first sale of the day is considered lucky so he will usually be extra generous if you arrive at the right time. In India, the early bird gets the best deal.

Thailand

It's a similar story in Thailand, where bargaining options abound. In Bangkok, rides in tuk-tuks are always negotiated, as they should be in traditional taxis. Markets may be a bit trickier, but the more skillful negotiator should still be able to walk away having paid 50% below asking price. The capital's Chatuchak market is a great place to test your mettle. A word of caution: touristy areas, such as the islands in the south, are often much less open to negotiation.

Turkey

Leather goods, rugs and basic souvenirs are all negotiable, though it is customary here to let the merchant make the first offer. Contain your enthusiasm, perhaps go inquire with surrounding merchants to show you're serious, then cut his price in half and you'll be bringing all sorts of goodies home in no time.

Mexico

Whether you want to or not, prepare to haggle while you're in Mexico. Merchants don't hesitate to accost tourists and offer various products, even going so far as trying to loosen them up with tequila to encourage a sale. In order to ensure you walk away with the best deal, assuming you're interested in what they're selling, it's always best to be prepared with a few key phrases in Spanish, as Mexicans are more likely to give discounts to those who make an effort to speak their language. Also, negotiate prices in pesos instead of dollars.

TUNISIA: Tunis-Carthage Airport Shuts Down, October 14-16

Tunisair national carrier company announced, Thursday, in a press release, that its flights to and from Tunis on October 14-16 will be rescheduled on the Monastir airport, in view of works to be undertaken by the Civil Aviation and Airports Board (French: OACA) at the level of the intersection of the airport's two runways.

Tunisair will make shuttle buses available to its passengers for their transfer to the airports of departure and arrival of their flights.

Passengers wishing to change their travel dates have the possibility to do that with paying additional fees.

SPAIN: Global Tourist Numbers Up In First Half - UN

The number of international tourists rose by 4.0% worldwide during the first half of 2015 although security and health concerns hit hard some African destinations, the UN World Tourism Organisation said Thursday.

Some 538 million tourists made trips to international destinations between January and June 2015 - 21 million more compared with the same period last year, the Madrid-based body said in a statement.

"These results show that, despite increased volatility, tourism continues to consolidate the positive performance it has had over the last five years and to provide development and economic opportunities worldwide," said the organization's head Taleb Rifai.

Global tourism figures were hard hit by the global financial crisis, declining 4.0% in 2009 as an outbreak of swine flu also contributed to cash-strapped people staying at home but have risen in each year since.

Asia, the Middle East and Europe, the world's most visited region, all saw a 5% increase in arrivals, with the Americas posting growth of 4.0%.

But Africa saw a drop of 6.0%.

North Africa, which was shaken by terrorist attacks in Tunisia, a popular lower-cost beach holiday spot for Europeans, saw arrivals fall by 10% while sub-Saharan Africa had a decline of 4.0%.

"Alongside the impacts of the terrorist attacks, African destinations have been impacted by the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak in a few West African countries and the slower growth of regional economies depending on the export of oil and other commodities," the tourism body said.

Tunisia's tourism industry, which had been recovering after the Arab Spring unrest, was badly shaken in March by an attack on the Bardo museum in Tunis, followed by one in June in the resort of Sousse, that killed a total of 59 tourists.

The UN World Tourism Organization predicts international tourism arrivals will increase by 3.0% to 4.0% during all of 2015, after expanding by 4.7% last year.

TUNISIA: Victims Of Gun Attack Start Legal Proceedings Against Travel Firm

A group of Britons who were victims of a beach gun attack in Tunisia have started legal action against holiday company Thomson, claiming that the operator, part of TUI Group, failed to provide adequate security at its hotel.

Thirty Britons were killed in June at a hotel in Sousse on the Mediterranean coast, the biggest loss of British lives in such an incident since the July 2005 bombings in London.

Several families who lost loved ones, as well as a number of those who were seriously injured in the attack, brought a claim for damages against Thomson through lawyers Irwin Mitchell, the law firm said in a statement on Thursday.

Formal claim letters had been sent to Thomson, but no formal response had been received, said the statement.

Irwin Mitchell's head of international personal injury Clive Garner said that Thomson was legally responsible for any failures to provide reasonable security precautions and adequate warnings to guests before and during their stays.

"It is clear that the security measures were not sufficient to prevent a lone gunman from accessing the hotel and its grounds, nor were they robust enough to stop him during a prolonged 30 to 40 minute rampage," he said.

Two weeks after the attack, thousands of tourists rushed to leave Tunisia after Britain warned another attack was "highly likely" and told them to leave.

TUI, the world's largest leisure and tourism company, said in August that cancelled holidays to Tunisia would cost it between €35m and €40m in total in its current financial year.