Tunisia has achieved a 10 percent increase in tourism revenue for the first five months of 2007 keeping on target for a record breaking year according to the country's tourism minister. Tourism Minister Tijani Haddad stated: "We expect important growth in tourism revenue this year of 8.6 percent to more than 3.0 billion dinars…that's the lowest expectation. The growth could be higher."
For decades, Tunisia has invested heavily into tourism and has seen its fortunes rise, it now matches Morocco, a country with three times Tunisia’s population as North Africa’s main holiday destination. The sector is now so strong that it has become the country’s top earner of foreign currency and also its main source of employment. According to official data, Tunisia had 6.5 million tourists in 2006, with revenue growing to 2.8 billion dinars from 2.56 billion in 2005.
A strong summer performance in 2007 is now predicted, with Haddad adding: "We are energising efforts to diversify sector products and find new markets as we aim to stretch the high season across the whole year.”
Tunisia already offers a wide range of holiday options with white sandy Mediterranean beaches covering a 810 - mile coast throughout Tabarka, Hammamet, Sousse and Jerba. A 27-hole golf course in El-Kantaoui is also a large draw for activity seeking tourists. Historically, Punic and Roman archaeological sites can be visited in Carthage and other areas around the country.
