Algeria offers visas on arrival for Sahara tourists

Algeria will allow foreign tourists heading to its vast desert south to obtain visas on arrival. PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK

Algeria will allow foreign tourists heading to its vast desert south to obtain visas on arrival, part of efforts to "promote tourism in the Sahara", the interior ministry announced Wednesday.

In a statement, it said that "foreigners heading to the south of the country" who have tours booked with licenced local companies could obtain visas "on arrival at airports and land borders, instead of going through normal visa procedures".