Tunisia tourism is one of the most dynamic economies of Tunisia and a source of foreign exchange for the country areas. Tourism has a ripple effect on other economic sectors, such as transport, communications, craft, trade and construction. The geographical position of Tunisia in the southern Mediterranean, with 1,300 kilometers of coastline largely sandy, warm Mediterranean climate in summer and mild winter, a rich civilizational heritage (eight sites on the World Heritage Unesco) and especially a low cost holiday, making the country one of the main destinations for European tourists in Africa and the Arab World (fourth most visited country after Egypt, South Africa and Morocco): Tunisia hosted 7,048,999 visitors in 2008.1 It has also set a goal to get closer to ten million tourists by 20142 horizon.
The development of tourism started in the 1960s thanks to the combined action of the state and private groups. Hotel capacity gradually changes from 56,000 beds in 1974 to 123,000 beds 19913. If tourism is reported that two million dinars per year in 1962, with 52 000 entries and an offer of 4,000 beds, it quickly becomes the main foreign exchange earner in the country with 6,549,549 visitors and an offer of 231,838 beds in 2006 (nearly 27% located in four and five star hotels) 4. The sector accounts for at that time 6.5% of GDP and provides 340,000 jobs, including 85,000 direct jobs, or 11.5% of the labor force with a high share of seasonal employment.
In 2010, tourism contributes 7% to GDP, annually generates between 18 and 20% of foreign exchange earnings, covering 56% of the trade deficit and employs 400,000 people.2. In addition, the sector now has a total capacity of more than 241,000 lits2.
After a disaster due to revolution 2011, the Tunisian tourism sector is showing signs of recovery with a rise of 52.8% in the number of tourists in the first quarter 20125. As we approach the peak season of 2013, a large demonstration people organized on Habib Bourguiba Avenue on June 22, at the initiative of the Tunisian Federation of Travel Agencies and the National Office of Tunisian tourism, which sees thousands of people gather for a celebration with international appeal tourism tunisien6.
