Long a destination of choice for mass tourism, Tunisia is attracting fewer and fewer foreign travelers due to the current political and economic instability. But for several years…

Tunisia moves away from mass tourism for more small local guesthouses

Audio 01:25

Due to political, economic and security instability, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, Tunisia is facing a drop in the number of Western tourists.

Here, tourists arrive in Tunis, at the port of La Goulette, on March 23, 2022 (illustration).

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Long a destination of choice for mass tourism, Tunisia is attracting fewer and fewer foreign travelers due to the current political and economic instability.

But in recent years, the structures that have opened have been smaller in size and of a higher standard: the craze for guest houses is felt there, with national tourists in mind.

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With our correspondent in Tunis,

Amira Souilem

Zoubeïr Mouhli shows his new construction site, with stars in his eyes: “

So this is a 17th century palace in the heart of the medina of Tunis which is going to be transformed into a guest house.
We are going to play on quality, historic places, places of character since all of this is aimed at customers who are rather keen on culture

, ”explains the architect.

This old but proud building will undergo a makeover.

The project should last three years at the very least.

The project seeks to keep this physiognomy, to bring about a new organization which both preserves the past, but which brings a new register for the reuse of the building, a contemporary register and that is a very exciting exercise

", s Zoubeïr Mouhli is thrilled.

A total of nine suites, a rooftop pool and even a wing that will house collectibles.

The medina of Tunis would now have about twenty accommodations of this kind.

There are four families who have set up a family project and sixteen investors who have come to buy in the medina to make plans

," he continues

.
What is also good is that 90% of these investors are Tunisian.

Many intimate accommodations, designed for Tunisians themselves

Like this palace, around twenty other old buildings are getting a makeover to welcome travelers looking for more intimate accommodation.

Enough to double the offer of this type in the old town of Tunis.

This alternative tourism which is slowly taking place in Tunisia would be one of the consequences of the 2011 revolution, having as public the Tunisians themselves, whereas until now, tourism was

turned towards Europeans

This was explained by Amel Djait, herself the owner of a rural gîte in the Hammamet region and former adviser to the Ministry of Tourism after the Jasmine Revolution.

The classic hotel offer has hitherto been aimed mainly at Europeans.

And it is in fact at the same time that the hotels have started to readapt their offer for Tunisians and to set up quotas.

Today, local tourism exceeds 20% of Tunisian tourism.

And then the guesthouses started to open up everywhere.

Whether at the beach level, etc.

But the Tunisian himself, in this post-revolution process, began to rediscover a passion for his own country.

We are seeing the arrival of restaurants, producers of local products, we are seeing the arrival of young people in the regions who are opening lodges and organizing day trips or even stays.

There are a lot of events happening in the regions as well.

In Tunisia, "today, local tourism exceeds 20% of national tourism", explains Amel Djait, owner of a rural lodging

Amira Souilem

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Tunisia moves away from mass tourism for more small local guesthouses

Tunisia moves away from mass tourism for more small local guesthouses

Many intimate accommodations, designed for Tunisians themselves

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