A few days after the official opening of the land borders between the two countries, the various tourist institutions were planning the mass movement of Algerian tourists to Tunisia. Nay, the wave expected at the border post was not there.
A rather exceptional phenomenon to be underlined because the Algerians represent the largest part of Tunisian tourism. Especially since this happens after 2 years of closing the borders between the two countries.
To mark the occasion, the Tunisian Minister of the Interior, who had moved to the border post, had taken special measures to attract Algerians. The latter had declared that Algerian tourists did not have to worry about their parking lots and the related fines. A very attractive measure, but which was not unanimous among his compatriots.
Despite all this, the expected mass did not arrive, and everyone goes from their theory to explain this flop.
The reasons for the timid presence of Algerian tourists in Tunisia
Several theories emerge after this phenomenon, some advancing health reasons, while others evoke economic causes or even errors in the timing. It is difficult to decide between these different reasons.
Indeed, some justify this non-arrival of Algerian tourists because of the wait for the results of the baccalaureate. The opening of the borders took place on July 15 while the results of the Algerian baccalaureate were not published until July 16. It’s hard to imagine the families of the 700,000 candidates going on vacation without knowing the fate of their children.
Another reason would be the health pass required at the border. A pass attesting to a double dose of anti-covid (2 doses for Johnson) or an antigen test of fewer than 24 hours, or a PCR test of fewer than 48 hours, must be presented at the border post to be able to enter the Tunisian territory.
Finally, it would also be because of inflation, the decline in the purchasing power of Algerians, and an increase in prices in Tunisia which would have slowed down the enthusiasm of Algerian tourists.
