Approximately 600 foreigners have visited the southern area of Algeria since the beginning of desert tourism season, according to a post on ENTV.

Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Hassan Marmouri expects even more tourists during the remainder of the year. Desert tourism season starts in October. Local and religious festivals are also a big draw during this time of year.

Algeria draws more than 10,000 desert tourists each year, according to Marmouri. Special discounts on airfare for Algerian Airlines make this an attractive time to travel for tourism groups arranged by travel companies. Some hotels also offer discounts of 25 to 30 percent during this travel season.