Tourism

In the years leading up to 2011, Tunisia was a popular destination for many European holidaymakers in search of a nearby, safe and affordable sun and sea destination. For more than 40 years, Tunisia’s resorts in beachside cities like Sousse and Hammamet had catered to a primarily package tourist crowd, attracting visitors from France, Germany, Italy and the UK. The country’s attractions are unique – from the ksours (castles) of Tataouine to the beaches of Djerba to the ruins of Carthage – however, recent years have proven challenging. The 2011 revolution led to a drop in visitor numbers in the immediate aftermath in turn exacerbating structural issues, such as a lack of diversified offerings. This was further impacted by a pair of terrorist incidents in 2015, which slowed the pace of the industry’s recovery from the 2011 revolution. However, while the short-term outlook is somewhat uncertain, the efforts adopted by the government under Vision 3+1, provide cause for optimism in the medium to long term. The ability of the sector to diversify its offerings and provide a wider selection of accommodation and activities should help buffer revenues in the future and ensure a more sustainable growth trajectory. This chapter contains an interview with Radhouane Ben Salah, President, Tunisian Federation of Hoteliers.