Tunis – Tunisia welcomed almost 1.7 million tourists year-to-date through April 20, up 19% year-on-year, Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported on Wednesday (25). The Tunisian Ministry of Tourism said the numbers exceeded even those of 2010, the best year yet for the industry there.
Based on these figures, optimism is running high as summer draws near in the North Hemisphere. This Wednesday morning, the Tourism commissioners from the Tunis, Hammamet, Nabeul, Monastir, Sousse, Mahdia, Tabarka and Djerba areas had a meeting to discuss preparations for high season with Tourism minister Salma Elloumi-Rekik, who’d already had a similar meeting with commissioners from Southern Tunisia.
They discussed the quality of services, oversight of tour operators, and strict enforcement of quality regulations. Environment protection, hotel capacity, safety, and food and water supplies were also in the agenda.
The minister called upon commissioners to stay mobilized and to strive for quality of services first and foremost, working in tandem with industry professionals.
Tourism is one of Tunisia’s primary economic activities and revenue sources. After a record-breaking year in 2010, the industry took a hit as the so-called Arab Spring broke out in 2011. The situation was made worse by terrorist attacks in Tunis and Sousse, in 2015. Getting the tourism industry back to speed is deemed a priority.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
