The Aurèsi archaeological mosaic : a precious heritage for a promising prosperous economy

الملخص EN

The paper aims at shedding light on the archaeological heritage that the Aurès region owns and the importance of tourism in the region to enhance the Algerian economy .The Aurès region enjoys scenic views and beautiful archaeological sites dating back to ancient civilizations and early history.

These sites are Hammam Salhin, balconies of Ghoufi, the Temple of Minerva, Medracen, Tazoult “Lambaesis”, and Timgad which won an Outstanding Universal Value as one of the seven World Heritage Sites located in Algeria.

The conduct of archaeological excavations almost continually since 1881 to 1960 has enabled the city of Timgad to avoid the construction of recent buildings, as the mechanical means required would have disturbed the ancient vestiges.

The archaeological sites in the Aurès region have cultural and historic endowments that make it the perfect tourism destination.

Diversifying oil dependent economy in Algeria is a must, especially with the slump in global oil prices.

Consequently, one of the best alternatives is the effective development of tourism business.

However, Considerable attention must be devoted by both Ministries of Culture and Tourism for a vigorous involvement to strengthen the tourism sector and to revive tourism in the Aurès region.