TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM IN THE OULED-NAIL MOUNTAINS: A CASE STUDY OF THE DJELFA MUNICIPALITY IN ALGERIA

Algeria's tourism sector plays a critical role in its economy, especially as the country faces an economic crisis due to its reliance on fossil fuels. However, despite its potential, the tourism industry has remained limited to coastal and desert tourism in the north and south, respectively. Therefore, diversifying the tourism product by exploring inland regions is necessary to restore regional balance and create geographical homogeneity. Djelfa, a city located in the central highlands of the Atlas Mountains, offers unique natural resources and cultural heritage, making it an ideal destination for ecotourism. This study evaluates the potential of Djelfa for tourism planning purposes, using scientific documentation, field survey techniques, and analytical methods like SWOT analysis. In addition, a survey was conducted amongst tourists to collect their opinions on the city's attraction characteristics. The data was processed using principal component analysis (PCA) in SPSS software. The study emphasizes the importance of tourism planning in the area and proposes suitable tourism projects for ecotourism and investment in the Senelba forest site. These projects will positively influence the environment, local population, and lead to real development at the local and national levels while preserving the area's cultural and natural heritage.