Some 4.1 million tourists visited Tunisia until 10 September 2022, scoring an overall gain of 161.4% compared to 2021 and a gap of -38.1% compared to the figures for 2019, the reference year before COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Tourism, Mohamed Moez Belhassine, said during a press conference in Sidi Bousaid that until 31 August 2022, the financial revenue of the tourism sector was 2,662.7 million dinars (about 819 million euros), marking an improvement of 161.4% compared to 2021 and a difference of -38.1% compared to the figures for 2019, the reference year before COVID-19.
He also pointed out that until 31 August 2022, the financial revenue of the tourism sector was 2,662.7 million dinars (about 819 million euros), marking a leap of 82% compared to 2021 and showing a deficit of -29.4% compared to 2019.
The number of tourist nights increased by 148.2%, recording a total of 12,729,652 nights until 31 August 2022, compared to 2021 with a gap of -39.4% compared to 2019. The Minister stressed the importance of the tourism industry to the country, despite the challenges it faces.
The country has experienced an overall loss of revenue of 9 billion dinars due to the coronavirus crisis.
Belhassine said that the government has put in place an action plan to promote the recovery of tourism activities and said that the goal for 2022 is to close the 2019 gap by 50-60%. “This target has not only been achieved but exceeded in some regions of the country”. The minister also addressed the revival of cruises to Tunisia, explaining that there were 29 cruises reaching Tunisia until 31 August 2022, with 28,050 tourists on board.
By the end of December, the number of additional cruise ships expected is 14, which will bring the total figure to 43 for the whole year. In addition, by 2023, 50 cruise ships are expected in Tunisia, a figure that could increase, Belhassine announced.
TunisianMonitorOnline
