Tunisia to focus on hygiene and service levels
Tunisia is to concentrate on hygiene and service levels in the next year in a bid to raise standards for holidaymakers.
The destination has seen a 25% growth in passenger numbers – up to 369,000 British visitors which is the best yet – despite a year with strikes, political unrest and terrorism.
And tourism officials believe its popularity will increase as hotels are better regulated.
Speaking at World Travel Market, Habib Ammar, director general of the Tunisian National Tourist Office, said: "!We have had some problems with the environment – food hygiene – and the quality of service but we are trying to improve that through training and controlling the hotels.
The officials claimed the recent suspected suicide bomb near the Riadh Palm Hotel in Sousse was an example of how government regulations were ensuring a better experience for tourists.
Wahida Jaiet, director of the Tunisian National Tourist Office said the man had tried to enter the hotel through the front and back but had been thwarted by security.
Ammar added: "We have a strict law. All the hotels have cameras and have to have a minimum number of security guards on duty. Security is also controlled by the government."
Tunisia is also in talks with Barrhead Travel and an Irish tour operator as it tries to sell the destination further afield. Tour operator Tunisia First is also putting together an online city break programme.
The UK is the second biggest market for Tunisia, after France, having jumped up from fourth place.
The destination plans to target the student market through partnerships with four major UK university cities.
And with 90% of business still coming through the trade, Jaiet added:"You can’t just build awareness of the destination with a website and adverts – we need to offer added value to agents and operators."
The tourism minister, who said he would like to reach 400,000 passengers from the UK by next year, said flights were the only hindrance to expansion with most routes still only served by charters but added: "but they will move to where the demand is."
Diane
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