Libya and Algeria set to boom

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Hasdell: there are huge opportunities for Hilton to invest in Algeria and Libya.

Libya and Algeria have been identified as two up-and-coming tourist hotspots in the MENA region by global tourism forecaster Euromonitor International.

The company, which compiled the World Travel Market Global Trend Report 2007, has claimed that both developing nations have the potential to share in the tourism boom that neighbouring countries such as Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia are enjoying, because they offer similar attractions - sun, sea, sand and culture.

Both governments are now embracing tourism development as a means of economic growth and have started to build the necessary infrastucture as well as welcoming foreign investment, particularly from Middle East countries, the report claimed.

But it did warn that both countries needed to improve security and visa requirements in order to attract tourism business.

International hotel companies are already eyeing the region with the Corinthia Group operating a five-star property in Tripoli, while Accor plans to open 36 hotels in Algeria by 2015.

And Hilton Hotels, which already operates one hotel in Algiers under a franchise agreement, told ATN there were huge opportunities to build its presence in both Libya and Algeria.

"There is an extreme amount of interest in these countries and we already work with Libyan hotel owners in Egypt," explained Hilton Hotels vice president operations for Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan & North Africa Simon Hasdell.

"Infrastructure in Libya is a problem, but there is a great willingness to do business, which counts for a lot. We are currently assessing opportunities in both countries."

Hilton Hotels has said it will double its MENA portfolio over the next five years.

It currently boasts 43 properties in the region with 15 new openings planned - including one in Algeria - over the next three years.

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