Tunisia welcomes tourists but keeps its borders closed!

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Tunisia beaches are witnessing tourists after charter flights restarted their services to the North African country after a break of three months or more due to the pandemic.

Late last week, around 155 mask-clad vacationers from France, Germany and Luxembourg were welcomed on the resort island of Djerba followed by temperature checks — but also by hostesses offering them bouquets of jasmine.

“We can’t save the whole season, but we will do everything we can to save part of it,” said Tourism Minister Mohamed Ali Toumi. Tunisia, a country of 11.5 million has officially 1,374 novel coronavirus cases and 50 deaths.
On June 27th, the country reopened its borders and travelers from countries it classifies as “green”, like France, Germany and Luxembourg, are not facing any coronavirus restrictions.

“You have managed the health crisis better than us,” said Patrick, a Frenchman in his sixties who had come with his son for 10 days in the Tunisian sun.

Tourism accounts for between eight and 14 percent of the GDP of the country and employs over half a million.
The novel coronavirus crisis has hit the sector in an extremely bad way.
Between January 1 and July 10, tourism revenues dropped by 50 percent compared to the same period last year, according to official figures.

“We are determined to strictly apply the health protocol,” the tourism minister said. Authorities are expecting for a speedy revival of the sector in early 2021.

Elsewhere in North Africa, Morocco declared a further easing of its restrictions, allowing tourist establishments to operate at fully but keeping international borders closed.

On Monday, a “third phase” of easing was implemented, authorities said in a statement, as part of “the continued implementation of measures necessary for a gradual return to normal life and restarting the economy”.
Now, tourist businesses are allowed to “use 100 percent of their capacity, without exceeding 50 percent in common areas” such as restaurants, pools and indoor sports facilities.

However, the kingdom will keep its international borders closed “until further notice”, except for returning Moroccans and residents.

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