Intruding travel agencies to be wiped out, says Tourism Minister

Minister of Tourism, Smail Mimoun said on Thursday that a national commission has been installed to be in charge of cleaning up the sector of “intruding” travel agencies, which do not comply with the law.Speaking to the lower house of the Parliament, M.Mimoun revealed that the commission has already examined 600 files of the 900 existing agencies, adding that 300 new travel agencies have been accredited, recently.He further indicated that 523 hotels are under construction, which likely to boost the sector with 50 000 beds, and would create 50 000 job opportunities.The minister told MPs that there are 60 state owned hotels nationwide, of which 45 hotels were allotted a 49 billion dinar envelope for renovation.Five stars El Aurassi Hotel, in Algiers, has been allocated a 60 million euro budget for renovation and modernization, said the minister, adding that the works are due to be achieved as by next July.