Tunisian Tourism rebounds but will it last?
Tourism in Tunisia dropped dramatically in 2011 with a decline of 44 per cent recorded in European tourist arrivals. Now tourism in Tunisia in 2012 is showing signs of revival, but will it continue?
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisian-Touris...
Tunisian tourism has seen its numbers drop dramatically in 2011. A decline of 44% was recorded in terms of flow of European markets and a decline of 31 per cent overall. France was less than 41per cent. As for tourism revenue it was down less than 33 per cent during the same year.
The number of tourists received by Tunisia was only of about 4.7 million tourists, this was about half the number of visitors Tunisia normally would expect to welcome.
However, forecasts for 2012 look more promising. The Ministry of Tourism says that industry figures recorded over the first 4 months of 2012 are reassuring, even showing a 51 per cent increase in all markets compared to 2011, which would result in a decrease of 25 per cent compared to 2010, the year that broke all records.
"Until the end of April 2012, the majority of French tour operators have reported a marked recovery of Tunisia," said René Marc Chikli, president of the Center for Studies and French tour operators (CETO), sidelines of an international symposium organized by the Regional Council of Ile de France reports the Tunisian online publication, African Manager.
German and English tourists are the most committed and they are ahead ahead in terms of traffic, with a gap of 10- 15 per cent. The Russian market is also showing greater interest in Tunisia. The French market, showed an increase of more than 52 per cent over 2011, down 17 per cent compared to April 2010.
However, with the " 10,000 salafists existing in Tunisia," according to the statements of Tourism Minister Elyes Fakhfakh,is beginning to worry tourists and industry professionals.
For Tunisia, trying to revive its fragile economy, beset by strikes and demonstrations the Salafists with their violence and aggressive behaviour are a real a threat to the tourism sector that contributes up to 7 per cent in GDP and was providing more than 400 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Although the unchecked Salafist demonstrations and aggressive violence against Tunisian citizens are taking place away from the tourist centres news of their activities is broadcasted internationally by TV and internet and any kind of violence and instability is enough to put of tourists with their families.
However after recent events in Jenouba the Minister of the Interior and the Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali have both issued statements that this violence will no longer be tolerated by the government and that the police will take action.
Several French tour operators operating in Tunisia, have expressed their intention to intensify their services to Tunisia.Pascal Izaguire, Chairman of TUI-Marmara and the first Tour operator in France says his group expects 370,000 French tourists at the end of 2012, a figure in the evolution of 20per cent. Henri Giscard d'Estaing the president of Club Med, said his group expects 35,000 customers Tunisia, a growth of 35per cent from 2011 and down 15 per cent compared to 2010, according to African Manager.
However, this proposed takeover by the French market remains dependent on the security against violence in Tunisia by the Salafists. This is one reason why the French tour operators have expressed reservations about security conditions. Excesses committed by the Salafists continue to arouse the fears of French consumers in respect of the Tunisian destination. According to the French tour operators, the recent events in Jendouba and Ghardimaou have slowed the pace of reservations when he was on an upward curve.
Tunisia is a fovoured destination for the French tourism industry but unless the Ennhada led government does stop illegal Salafist demonstrations and take a firm line on individual freedoms for Tunisian men and women it risks not only the future development of its tourism industry but much else besides.
A party of American tourists recently had a meal in a small town restaurant .One of them asked for a beer. The waiters said they would be happy to oblige but they had been told by Salafist activists not to serve alcohol.
One wonders if Tunisia will ever again be the free and welcoming society that European tourists so loved.
The number of tourists received by Tunisia was only of about 4.7 million tourists, this was about half the number of visitors Tunisia normally would expect to welcome.
However, forecasts for 2012 look more promising. The Ministry of Tourism says that industry figures recorded over the first 4 months of 2012 are reassuring, even showing a 51 per cent increase in all markets compared to 2011, which would result in a decrease of 25 per cent compared to 2010, the year that broke all records.
"Until the end of April 2012, the majority of French tour operators have reported a marked recovery of Tunisia," said René Marc Chikli, president of the Center for Studies and French tour operators (CETO), sidelines of an international symposium organized by the Regional Council of Ile de France reports the Tunisian online publication, African Manager.
German and English tourists are the most committed and they are ahead ahead in terms of traffic, with a gap of 10- 15 per cent. The Russian market is also showing greater interest in Tunisia. The French market, showed an increase of more than 52 per cent over 2011, down 17 per cent compared to April 2010.
However, with the " 10,000 salafists existing in Tunisia," according to the statements of Tourism Minister Elyes Fakhfakh,is beginning to worry tourists and industry professionals.
For Tunisia, trying to revive its fragile economy, beset by strikes and demonstrations the Salafists with their violence and aggressive behaviour are a real a threat to the tourism sector that contributes up to 7 per cent in GDP and was providing more than 400 000 direct and indirect jobs.
Although the unchecked Salafist demonstrations and aggressive violence against Tunisian citizens are taking place away from the tourist centres news of their activities is broadcasted internationally by TV and internet and any kind of violence and instability is enough to put of tourists with their families.
However after recent events in Jenouba the Minister of the Interior and the Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali have both issued statements that this violence will no longer be tolerated by the government and that the police will take action.
Several French tour operators operating in Tunisia, have expressed their intention to intensify their services to Tunisia.Pascal Izaguire, Chairman of TUI-Marmara and the first Tour operator in France says his group expects 370,000 French tourists at the end of 2012, a figure in the evolution of 20per cent. Henri Giscard d'Estaing the president of Club Med, said his group expects 35,000 customers Tunisia, a growth of 35per cent from 2011 and down 15 per cent compared to 2010, according to African Manager.
However, this proposed takeover by the French market remains dependent on the security against violence in Tunisia by the Salafists. This is one reason why the French tour operators have expressed reservations about security conditions. Excesses committed by the Salafists continue to arouse the fears of French consumers in respect of the Tunisian destination. According to the French tour operators, the recent events in Jendouba and Ghardimaou have slowed the pace of reservations when he was on an upward curve.
Tunisia is a fovoured destination for the French tourism industry but unless the Ennhada led government does stop illegal Salafist demonstrations and take a firm line on individual freedoms for Tunisian men and women it risks not only the future development of its tourism industry but much else besides.
A party of American tourists recently had a meal in a small town restaurant .One of them asked for a beer. The waiters said they would be happy to oblige but they had been told by Salafist activists not to serve alcohol.
One wonders if Tunisia will ever again be the free and welcoming society that European tourists so loved.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisian-Touris...