Kenadsa: Reinventing Saharan Tourism in the Face of the Health Crisis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented systemic crisis, bringing the global tourism sector to a standstill. In Algeria, this disruption calls for a critical examination of the resilience of Saharan destinations. Kenadsa, a town on the edge of the Saoura region, offers a unique case study thanks to its hybrid “polyptych” of heritage.

This article aims to identify post-crisis tourism revitalization strategies for Kenadsa by drawing on its endogenous potential. The research adopts a multidimensional qualitative approach that combines historical literature review with a series of non-directive interviews with local stakeholders (authorities, recent graduates, and former miners). This approach allows for a comparison between the intrinsic value of the heritage and the social perception of the region.

The study reveals that Kenadsa has three major areas of appeal: a spiritual center (Zawiya Ziania) and an abandoned coal-mining industrial zone. The findings show that the ksar’s spatial organization—with its system of natural ventilation in the courtyards and the hierarchical flow of traffic—provides natural health benefits superior to those of modern urban models. The field survey highlights a strong local desire to transform these assets into economic drivers.

The transition to a post-COVID tourist destination in Kenadsa is based on a strategic two-pronged approach: the digitization of cultural offerings and the adoption of “slow tourism.” The revitalization of the industrial wasteland and the ksar, as part of a sustainable development project, is helping to shift the focus from transient tourism to a destination that embodies resilience in terms of both cultural heritage and public health