Tunis (AFP)

Affected by a relapse of its tourism due to the new coronavirus but relatively spared by the pandemic, Tunisia seeks to limit the damage for this key sector, by emphasizing strict hygiene measures and by targeting an especially local market .

Tunisian tourism suffers from a shortfall of six billion dinars (two billion euros) because of the Covid-19 pandemic, estimates the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT), with 400,000 jobs threatened, at when the country is already plunged into a difficult economic and social situation.

The sector, which weighs around 14% of GDP according to the Ministry of Tourism, has been at a standstill since the end of March, and the closure of airspaces with Europe, its main market, is expected to last a good part of the year. 'summer.

This collapse has the appearance of a relapse for a sector already very tested by the consequences of political instability and especially the jihadist attacks of the years 2015-16.

After three years of rebound, which had seen attendance return to unprecedented levels for 10 years, "Tunisia had started the year off well, with an increase in revenues of 28%", underlines Feriel Gadhoumi, coordinator of the ONTT .

Sitting in front of his antique store in the picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, near Tunis, whose blue and white alleys are usually crowded in spring, Mohamed Saddam now only comes "an hour a day to ventilate" the place.

"Normally, the season starts now. But there is no one there," he sighs. "We are waiting for the opening of airspace. But the year 2020 is screwed up for us".

- Ghost stations -

Most hotels have closed, and those that remain open often house thousands of quarantined people for free, making the resorts look like ghost towns.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has warned that the number of international tourists will decrease by 60 to 80% in 2020.

But the hoteliers are trying to save what can be saved during the season by relying on the reassuring health situation in the country and on drastic hygiene measures.

Tunisia is one of the Mediterranean countries least affected by the pandemic, with an official death toll of 45. For several days this week, no new contamination was recorded.

"The customers will focus on the sanitary and hygienic aspect", assures Anis Souissi, commercial director in the hotel business, who is considering "fixed menus of your choice" instead of the usual buffet, "a table and a parasol fixed throughout the stay ".

"Targeting the local market and preparing for next season are the only choices," he observes.

The Ministry of Tourism is preparing a protocol for hotels that will reopen - some plan to do so in early June. On the program, temperature controls at the airport and at the entrance of hotels, disinfected rooms left vacant 48 hours between two customers, intensive washing of common areas and the spacing of tables by one meter in cafes .

These measures are necessary to "regain the trust of the partners," says Gadhoumi. It remains to be seen whether the hotels, some of which are already on the verge of bankruptcy, will manage to make the necessary investments.

Because tourism has already been weakened by a series of crises.

- National tourism -

After the political instability following the fall of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, jihadist attacks in 2015 targeted summer visitors in a hotel in Sousse (center-east) and at the Bardo museum in Tunis (60 dead, including 59 tourists).

The security situation has since improved considerably and attendance had returned to its pre-2011 level last year, with 9.5 million visitors, even if revenues are lagging behind.

The bankruptcy of tour operator pioneer Thomas Cook, who transported 5% of European tourists, rocked certain hotels in September 2019.

For this summer, in addition to national tourism, hoteliers are eyeing the side of Algerian and even Russian holidaymakers, who have allowed them to cushion previous crises.

But no commercial flight is scheduled for the moment.

In addition, Algeria is seriously affected by the pandemic and the opening of borders is not envisaged in the short term.

Tunisians, they represent only 20% of tourists, and many saw their income and days of leave melt during confinement.

As for the tens of thousands of foreigners stranded in Tunisia for the summer, their presence should hardly be enough to save the season.

© 2020 AFP