Algeria hosted a seven-day educational tour for 50 international delegates, including journalists and travel agents from 22 countries, as part of a national strategy to boost tourism and attract around 8 million visitors by 2029.

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft through the Algerian Embassy, the delegation visited major destinations, including Algiers, Oran, Annaba, and Tlemcen, as well as Roman ruins, museums, religious sites, and Africa's largest mosque.

Algeria, home to nearly 50 million people, promotes a mix of Mediterranean, Saharan, Islamic, and Roman heritage.

Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Casbah of Algiers and seven World Heritage Sites, alongside prehistoric cave sites in the Hoggar Mountains.

Speaking in Algiers, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Houria Meddahi told NBC News that strengthening international partnerships, including with Namibia, remains central to Algeria's tourism strategy.

"The Algerian president, in his programme, says that we developed the relations, especially in economic tourism with African countries from the sub-Saharan countries, and cooperate in handicrafts and tourism programmes, and Algeria can promote your country and Namibia to our country and exchange ideas."

The governor of Tlemcen, Youcef Bechlaoui, emphasised the importance of tourism for economic development and national visibility.

"As you know, Tlemcen historically is a huge city and was instilled in huge trends of growth between civilisations and especially between the North African densities and Europe. But as you know, it is not a small city by any means, and it's a very historical variety."

Journalists from different countries described the experience as an eye-opener.