The contribution of the tourism industry to Tunisia’s national wealth is well-known, although it has faced varying degrees of challenges, the most detrimental of which have been linked to terrorism.
Recently, since last year, the tourism sector has been on a trajectory that marks a clear break from the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, which itself followed the equally devastating episode of terrorist attacks that significantly reduced the flow of foreign visitors.
Professionals in the sector are celebrating the encouraging results being recorded, while remaining cautious about the future, as numerous challenges persist. These include increased competition from rival tourist destinations and global economic uncertainty.
Nevertheless, medium-term prospects appear relatively favorable, as evidenced by the growth in the direct gross domestic product (GDP) of Tunisia’s tourism industry, which reached 7.3 billion dinars in 2023, contributing 4.9% to the total GDP, according to the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for 2023, published on Wednesday evening by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Tourism directly contributed 7.1 billion dinars to the Tunisian economy in 2023, representing 5% of the total value added generated by the national economy.
Regarding domestic tourism expenditures, which include both internal tourism and inbound tourism (activities of resident and non-resident visitors within the country), they amounted to approximately 14.5 billion dinars.
Non-specific products (primarily medical services and shopping) accounted for about 24% of total expenditures, while accommodation, food and beverages, and passenger air transport represented 36%, 14%, and 16% of expenditures, respectively, according to TSA data.
Discussing inbound tourism, which refers to the activities of non-resident visitors within the country, the INS indicated that expenditures in this sector reached 10.4 billion dinars.
Non-specific products (mainly medical services and shopping) accounted for one-fifth (20%) of total expenditures, while accommodation and transport represented 39% and 21% of expenditures, respectively.
Inbound tourism expenditures return to 2018 and 2019 levels
In 2023, inbound tourism expenditures accounted for 72.3% of total domestic expenditures, returning to their 2018 and 2019 levels and reflecting the recovery of international tourism to Tunisia after the shock of the 2020 health crisis, the INS noted.
Regarding inbound tourism demand, it was estimated at 2.3 billion dinars. The breakdown of consumption by product shows that non-specific products (services, including medical, and goods, including shopping) represent a quarter (20%) of total expenditures. Accommodation accounted for 39% of expenditures, while food and beverages represented 12%. Expenditures on passenger transport services with national carriers accounted for 21%.
On the other hand, domestic tourism expenditures reached 4.01 billion dinars. For this type of consumption, non-specific products represent one-third (34%) of total expenditures, accommodation 26%, and food and beverages 22%.
Finally, Tunisia’s domestic tourism demand was estimated at 2.48 billion dinars in 2023. Non-specific products accounted for 34% of expenditures, accommodation 26%, and food and beverages 22%.
