Tunisia is expected to receive roughly 8.5 million tourists this year
Tunisia is projected to have a successful tourist season this summer, with visitor numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels.
According to a press statement, this is set to inject some desperately needed foreign currency into a struggling economy as state finances face bankruptcy. At almost USD 550 million as of the end of May, tourism revenue was up 57 pc from the same time previous year.
In Tunisia, the tourism industry generally contributed around 7 pc of the country’s GDP, but the Covid-19 outbreak caused tourist numbers to plummet, further straining an already fragile economy.
According to current estimates, there will be roughly 8.5 million tourists this year, up significantly from the 6.4 million in 2018 and about 90 pc of the 9.4 million tourists who visited in 2019, the final year before the epidemic.
However, even a very successful tourism season would only make a modest dent in Tunisia’s large budgetary shortfall, which has resulted in shortages of some commodities and medications, or in the country’s overall economic growth.
The statement adds that from 123 days of exports a year ago, foreign exchange reserves have decreased to 91 days currently, and credit ratings agency Fitch has rated Tunisia’s national debt as junk, indicating market concerns that it may stop making payments on its foreign debts.
The majority of tourism in Tunisia is directed towards beach resorts and short-stop cruise ships, despite the country’s rich historical history from ancient civilisations, Berber tribes, Islamic dynasties, and Mediterranean naval forces.
Donors are making a last-ditch effort to get President Kais Saied to agree to bailout terms with the IMF, but it is far from apparent that an agreement will be achieved.
