The Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT) is currently crisscrossing Quebec to win over Quebec travelers. It is a large offensive targeting travel agents which are currently taking place in the four corners of the province during exclusive evenings in Tunisia. In images, in music, in dance, but it is above all in the information that travel specialists fill up.
“We have a series of presentations of Tunisia in the various Quebec cities precisely to present Tunisia, to talk about Tunisia, to remind that Tunisia is there and to promote Tunisia to these sellers who are very important and who can develop the sales of the destination”, underlines from the outset Neji Ben Othmane, director of Tunisian tourism for Canada.
Tunisia is located at the northeast end of Africa. It is a country with an area of just over 163,000 km2. Its population is 11 million.
In addition to its Mediterranean climate, its breathtaking landscapes between sea and desert, its sites full of history, its gastronomy, and its seaside resorts, another element particularly appeals to Quebecers according to Mr. Ben Othmane.
“It is a French-speaking country. We speak French! It is very important for Quebecers. There is also a very good quality-price ratio […] We offer a wide variety of products, there is business tourism, seaside resorts, the Sahara, the south of sand, the south of stone, the south of oasis, the golf product too,” he insists.
Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has had a negative impact on the number of tourists in the country, but the revival is imminent and the figures speak for themselves according to the Tunisian Tourist Office. This year’s goal is to reach 70% of the number of visitors received in 2019, before the pandemic.
“We have welcomed 4.5 million tourists so far. In 2019, we received 9.5 million tourists. Next year certainly, there will be more”, underlines Neji Ben Othmane.
“We received about 18,000 Canadians during the first 9 months (of the year). This is a good increase of 8% compared to 2019. Not 2021 or 2020, compared to 2019. So that means that the market is picking up again and that’s a good thing for our tourism, ”continues -he.
Tunisia entered the Canadian market as a tourist destination more than twenty years ago. There was quite a serious potential for the Tunisian authorities to open a tourist office to develop the Quebec clientele.
“The Quebec market is developing positively in Tunisia. This development was confirmed and consolidated with the establishment in 2007 of the direct flight with the national company Tunisair linking Montreal and Tunis. It gave another breath to develop the Quebec tourist market, ”says Neji Ben Othmane.
The general manager of the Charterama travel agency also confirms that it was a popular destination before the pandemic, especially for long stays of 8 or 10 weeks.
“There is the price, the temperature, but also the decor. It remains that it’s magical, you have extraordinary villages, you have everything, the beach, the desert…”, underlines Barbara Paquin.
“Indeed, we have customers who are interested. Now it’s starting again. There was a stoppage for two years. People were worried. The restrictions, it was difficult for us. This presentation is interesting for us because we really know where we are going (with the sanitary measures). ”, she adds.
This tourist tour of the Tunisian tourist office in Canada is also an opportunity to take stock of the health measures in force and the requirements for entering the country.
“It’s safe. Health security is omnipresent even more than ever”, we insisted.
Francophonie Summit
In less than a month, Tunisia will host the 18th Francophonie Summit. The event will be held on the island of Djerba on November 19 and 20, 2022.
“It’s an international event that will bring together the countries of the Francophonie. It proves that Tunisia is a country that is evolving and which, touristically speaking, is developing,” says Neji Ben Othmane.
According to the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the Summit “defines the orientations of La Francophonie in a Ten-Year Strategic Framework so as to ensure its influence in the world. It adopts any resolution it deems necessary for the proper functioning of La Francophonie and the achievement of its objectives. It elects the Secretary General of La Francophonie”.
