Thermal tourism draws over 3.1 million visitors in 2025

Houria Meddahi, Minister of Tourism and Crafts, opened the two-day National Forum on Thermal Tourism in Guelma on Monday, 26 October.

Algérie Eco reported that the forum, which runs on 26 and 27 October, covers modernising facilities, improving services and investment in the sector. Experts, thermal tourism professionals and diplomats are taking part. Participants come from Italy, China and Azerbaijan.

How many sites are there?

Algeria has 282 thermal springs spread across 40 wilayas. The country also has 36 thermal stations with 5,618 beds, and 28 traditional baths (hammams) in 18 wilayas. The minister presented these figures at the opening. The 36 stations employ 2,564 people.

Stations run by the Hotels, Tourism and Thermalism Group (GHTT) have 2,997 beds and employ 1,152 people. Hammam Chellala, in Guelma wilaya, has 625 beds. Other GHTT stations are at Bouhanifia in Mascara wilaya, Hammam Rabi in Saïda wilaya, Hammam Essalihine in Biskra wilaya and Hammam Guergour in Sétif wilaya.

How many people visited?

In 2025, thermal stations received 312,736 spa patients (curistes). Traditional baths recorded 2,826,403 visitors in the same year. In the first half of 2026, thermal stations welcomed 176,115 curistes, and baths received 1,166,469 visitors.

The minister said these figures show how much thermal visits are part of Algerians' leisure habits. They also show that the activity could develop through the whole year.

What new projects are planned?

There are 14 thermal projects under construction. These projects should add 2,366 beds to the national capacity and create 1,155 direct jobs.

The minister said that supporting investors and removing obstacles that delay projects are among the priorities. She called for rehabilitation and modernisation work on these facilities to continue. She also pleaded for better reception areas, more leisure activities and services suited to different types of visitor and their budgets.

Meddahi said the baths are part of the social and cultural memory of Algerian families. Valuing them means keeping this heritage and adapting it to today's expectations, she said.