Tunisia is yet another country to warn that it accommodates “too many tourists” who stick to beaches and popular resorts.
With that in mind, officials are now working to spread out tourism nationwide to avoid overcrowding in its most popular spots.
The North African nation expects to welcome 10 million visitors by the end of 2024, including nearly 300,000 from the UK.
Helmi Hassine, the general director of the National Tunisian Tourism Office, told TTG: “Our key message is alternative tourism – we want people to enjoy experiences all over the country.”
Hassine also explained that Tunisia wants to promote other activities, such as hiking and biking, in addition to its famous beach resorts.
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“This isn’t to replace our beach offering, but we want visitors to discover more of Tunisia,” he added.
Popular resort areas like Hammamet and Monastir, where British tourists typically stay, attract visitors with stunning beaches.
EasyJet flies to Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport from UK airports, including London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, and Liverpool. Flights take just over three hours.
Good news for Tunisian officials: As part of the new approach, up to 80% of tourists are already booking excursions to see other parts of the country.
A tourist tax was also introduced earlier in 2024 and extended to package tourists, helping to direct funds to local communities.
In addition, to support more regional travel, around 2,000 guesthouses across the country are being certified for tourists, a process Hassine hopes will be completed within a year.
“We want tourism to be more fair and to fight the seasonality,” he said, adding that Tunisia is a “year-round destination.”
Tunisia is now British tourists’ fourth most popular North African destination, behind France, Germany and Poland.
In addition, easyJet Holidays has increased its winter routes to Tunisia with new flights to the island of Djerba from Luton and Manchester.
The tourism office hopes that these efforts will attract more visitors and give them a chance to explore the less-known parts of Tunisia.