Lotfi Riahi, President of the Tunisian Organization to Inform Consumers (OTIC), stated on Express FM that the soaring cost of accommodation and hotel services has prevented many Tunisians from enjoying summer holidays in hotels due to declining purchasing power.
This summer season is witnessing an unprecedented surge in prices compared to previous years, further widening the gap between the tourism offering and the reality faced by Tunisian citizens.
In this context, OTIC called for the adoption of legislation that guarantees the “right to domestic tourism” at fair prices, taking into account citizens’ purchasing power and shifting tourism from a luxury model to a basic right.
Riahi also denounced what he described as “unjust discrimination” in pricing between foreign tourists and Tunisians, with foreigners receiving preferential rates while locals often pay double.
He stressed the need to unify treatment in order to ensure tourism justice and create inclusive economic momentum.
He proposed a legislative initiative requiring tourist establishments to allocate at least 30% of their accommodation capacity to domestic tourism during the high season, at the same rates applied to foreign tourists.
Such a measure, he argued, would enshrine the principle of equity and reinforce Tunisians’ right to leisure and tourism within their own country.
He warned that the current pricing policies effectively exclude many citizens from benefiting from the national tourism offering.
Riahi further explained that a single hotel night can cost around 400 dinars per person, an exaggerated price point that exceeds the financial reach of most Tunisian families, making vacations largely inaccessible.
