Tunisia tourism post-revolution: One step forward, two backward

The tourism sector in Tunisia which was unstable since the Yasmine revolution has recorded a good performance during the first nine months of 2012 and according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism, some 4.4 million tourists visited the country from January 1 to September 20, posting a 32 percent increase compared to the same period in 2011.

However, compared with 2010, tourist arrivals fell by 15 percent. Tourism revenues recorded a 38 percent increase compared to 2011 and a 12 percent decrease compared to 2010.

Tunisian officials insist that the Tunisia destination is still popular with the European market, as 1.97 million European tourists visited the country in 2012 compared to 1.30 million during the same period in 2011. The figure has not however reached the 2010 numbers which stood at 2.49 million.