The tourist zone of Sousse-Kantaoui recorded a 17.2% decline in visitor numbers between January 1 and February 28, 2026, with 105,057 visitors compared to 126,847 during the same period last year.
According to a report presented by the regional tourism delegate for Sousse, Mohamed Boujdaria, during the first session of the Regional Tourism Council held Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Minister of Tourism, the drop was particularly noticeable in several key markets.
The decline was strongest in the domestic market, down 22.5%, the Algerian market, down 33.2% and the Libyan market, which saw a sharp decrease of 67.1%, according to Mosaique FM.
Traditional European markets also recorded setbacks. The French market saw visitor numbers fall by about 22%, while the average length of stay decreased by around 29.2%. The German market experienced an 18.8% drop in overnight stays, although the pace of bookings from the French and German markets remains generally satisfactory.
Boujdaria explained that the decline is due to several factors, including a slowdown in bookings since the beginning of Ramadan, particularly affecting the domestic, Algerian, and Libyan markets. He also cited measures introduced by Algerian authorities at the end of 2025 regulating travel permits for Algerian citizens.
He stressed that no flights have been canceled and reassured that bookings are expected to return to their normal pace after Ramadan.
However, he warned that if global political and security tensions persist in the coming months, there could be a noticeable decline in the number of European visitors.
