Cruise ship with 106 foreign tourists docks in Algiers

A cruise ship carrying 106 foreign tourists, most of them British, arrived at the port of Algiers on Sunday 8 November.

DNAlgerie reported that the ship, the Hebridean Sky, came in the morning from the port of Béjaïa. Its passengers were of several nationalities.

On arrival, the visitors were welcomed at the reception desk of the National Tourism Office (ONT). They were given promotional material about the country's heritage, history and tourism.

The visit was part of a tour of Algeria, with several visits planned in the capital and nearby. The excursion was organised by the travel agency Magic Tour.

Sites in the capital and Tipaza

In Algiers, the tour included the Grande Poste, a well-known building in the city centre, and the Martyrs' Memorial, known as Maqam Echahid. The itinerary also included the Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Afrique, a historic building overlooking Algiers Bay.

The programme also included an excursion to Tipaza, where the archaeological site is part of Algeria's ancient heritage.

What the visit is meant to show

The ONT wants to make Algeria's history and culture better known to foreign visitors. The welcome was also meant to show the different sides of the country, from historic sites and monuments to landscapes.

No figures on the economic effect of the visit were given. The ONT did not say how long the ship stayed in Algiers, or give the nationality of every passenger.