Some 2,626,000 tourists have visited Tunisia from the beginning of the year until August 20, up 113%, compared to the same period in 2021.
In an interview with TAP, Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Mohamed Moez Belhassine added that the number of arrivals in the same period was down 42%, compared to 2019.
The ministry is seeking to reach 50 to 60% of the 2019 figures by the end of the current year, he added, stressing the need to address social challenges to preserve the sustainability of the sector.
Belhassine also said an agreement on a wage increase in the tourism sector will soon be signed between the UGTT and the inter-professional union of tourism.
As for tourist revenues, they have reached 1,578 million dinars (MD), with a 58% increase until August 10, compared to the same period of 2021, and a 31% decline compared to 2019.
On the other hand, the total number of overnight stays reached 6.2 million, up 146% increase compared to 2021 and down 48% compared to 2019.
Tunisia welcomed over 60,000 Algerians since opening land borders
Tunisia has welcomed over 60,000 Algerian tourists since the Tunisian-Algerian land borders opened on August 15, the Minister of Tourism indicated. He estimated that this figure will increase in August, especially as many Algerians tend to take their holidays in August.
He said Tunisia aims to attract more than a million Algerian tourists by the end of the year.
Nearly three million Algerians had visited Tunisia in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic led to border-closing, while about 1.5 million Tunisians went to Algeria, the minister recalled.
On another level, Belhassine noted that his department has just set up a strategy to develop sports tourism in Tunisia, in collaboration with the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT).
The objective is to attract sports teams, particularly European and diversify the tourist products.
Source: Tap News Agency