after party

by Faiza BENGUELLA (Algeria)

Making a local connection Algeria

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Silence falls again in this month of January 2019 on the golden dunes of Taghit, 90 km south-east of Béchar in the great Algerian Sahara. Silence both restorative and sad at the same time. After a week of intense atmosphere, thanks to the New Year's Eve, the Palmeraie town, one of the most popular destinations of Saharan tourism, is back to the habits of ordinary days. The alleys are almost deserted. The square, where street vendors of handicrafts usually set up shop during the last days of December, is empty, swept by the icy winter wind. Only one trader from the north keeps the "shop" open with a few traditional items, some of which are imported, goats of all colours and woollen hats. At night, it is very cold in this region of south-west Algeria. After New Year's Eve, Taghit adapts to the empty passage or days without. "There are three main dates for tourism in Taghit, the end of the year, the school holidays in spring and sand baths in summer," explains Ahmed Taghiti, president of the Taghit APC. Yet winter is considered the "high season" for Saharan tourism. The winter is considered the "high season" of Saharan tourism, which lasts from October to April. The floating period exceeds four months during the summer. In summer, the beach is preferred to the dunes of the Sahara unless new ideas are found to attract lovers of hot weather and starry nights.