Despite a 33% increase in arrivals recorded from January 1 to March 10, 2017, the number of French tourists visiting Tunisia is still below expectations, said director of Tunisia’s National Tourist Office (ONTT) in France Wahida Jaiet.
Speaking to TAP news agency, on the sidelines of the 42nd edition of the World Tourism Fair (SMT), she added that “the booking provided by the main tour operators marketing the Tunisian destination is about 49%.”
For her, “these figures are hopeful, but nothing is gained yet,” noting that the recovery will settle over time.
For his part, Mourad Kallal, a tourism professional, believes that “the recovery posted today is realized at the level of individual tourists”.
“We are absent in the group tourism market,” the participant told TAP.
Kallal also raised the issue of air transport, the lack of means and the increase in the tariffs posted by Tunisair.
A dozen Tunisian tourism professionals representing the regions of Sousse, Zarziz-Djerba, participate in the 42nd edition of the SMT, presenting promotional tariffs on the destination outside the holiday periods.
The Tunisian stand has been laid out over 36 meters, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about tourist offers in Tunisia and the know-how of Tunisian craftsmen and artists in the fields of pottery and calligraphy.
A tasting of the Tunisian pastry was offered to visitors interested in the destination.
The World Tourism Fair, held from March 18 to 21 in Paris, is an annual event bringing together more than 500 professionals from several countries of the world.
More than 130 thousand visitors go to “SMT” to book their holidays, according to organizers of the show.
