Tunisia has no shortage of assets to turn new forms of tourism into a real driving force for regional development and to attract tourists with a passion for culture, nature and authenticity.
Thanks to its ecological wealth, but also to the richness of its cultural, archaeological and culinary heritage, the country has inexhaustible potential for sustainable tourism.
Sustainable tourism is an integral part of this configuration, having emerged in the world as a response to the expansion of mass tourism, whose negative externalities no longer need to be demonstrated.
It is in this context that a new project called ‘TANIT’ has been launched to strengthen the development of sustainable tourism in Tunisia and the capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) working in the field of sustainable tourism.
Co-financed by the European Union and implemented by Leaders International in partnership with the scientific association ‘Museum Lab’, the TANIT project will stimulate economic development, particularly in inland regions, by promoting sustainable tourism that enhances the country’s natural and cultural heritage.
It will also help to diversify tourism beyond the coastal areas. The governorates of Jendouba, Kef, Siliana, Béja, Zaghouan, Medenine, Gabes and Tataouine will be the focus of the project’s initiatives, with the aim of developing their tourism potential and increasing their attractiveness.
In fact, alternative and sustainable tourism is a sector with great potential, a real source of wealth and one of the viable options for economic diversification for developing countries, according to UNCTAD. Tunisia is one of them. It is also a new challenge.
If tourism figures are anything to go by, there’s plenty to be proud of. In 2023, 8.8 million foreigners set foot on Tunisian soil, an increase of 50% compared to 2022, and revenues rose by 28%, while several traditional markets, notably France and the United Kingdom, which were in decline following the COVID-19 pandemic, recovered with increases of 10% and 35% respectively.
The jubilation is inevitable and striking. However, a closer look reveals that euphoria is not allowed and that a laconic “can do better” reminds us that national tourism is fundamentally obliged to do better, on the sole condition that it “dares” to diversify its niches.
New initiatives for sustainable tourism in 2025
The activities that the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT) intends to launch abroad in 2025 to promote Tunisia as a tourist destination were the focus of a recent working session at the Ministry of Tourism.
The importance of Tunisia’s participation in international fairs and exhibitions has been stressed in order to promote Tunisia as a tourist destination, encourage investment in the tourism sector and publicize new tourism programs aimed at developing sustainable and responsible tourism, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Tourism.
These include the Culinary Route, the Cinematographic Route, the UNESCO Route, etc.
In addition, the Minister of Tourism called for the best possible coordination with all stakeholders, including diplomatic delegations and Tunisian structures abroad, to ensure that Tunisia’s image is promoted abroad.