Tunisian Tourism: There is an improvement but the pace is still too slow

The development strategy includes promotion and marketing, governance and restructuring the finance  for the sector r as wellas  mastery of new technologies for information and communication and the development of air transport . Through this initiative Tunisia is aiming  to attract 10 million tourists in 2016.

Investments in the tourism sector have decreased significantly by 50% during the first 11 in 2012. In parallel, and during the same period, Tunisia received 5,554,000 tourists November 30, 2012, against 4,456,000 in 2011 and 6,487,000 in  2010. Whilst arrivals have increased in 2012  theyare still not up to 2010 figures.

The indebtedness of hoteliers,  is of the order of 3.5 billion dinars. Worse, between 600 and 800 million dinars are disputed claims that are supported by management company assets.
 
Tunisia hopes for 6.8 million tourists in 2013. Much will depend on Tunisia's regaining stability and public order with a reduction of violence and  demonstrations.Despite tensions in Tunisia, travel agents, tour operators alternative, tourist guides, restaurants, communicators and industry experts stress the need to ensure coordination between the Ministries of Transport and Tourism and close cooperation in order to improve the performance of Tunisia as a tourism destination. Compared with competing destinations, the cost of air travel in Tunisia remains high, which leads many tour operators to abandon the Tunisian destination to move towards others, such as Morocco, Spain, Turkey, African Manager writes. Professionals stress the need to promote a better image of Tunisia combined with incentive packages for tour operators, it concludes.