Tunisia is planning to spend €5 million on promotion in Russia

The inbound tourist flow from Russia to Tunisia has decreased by 19% in 2011, amounting to 150 thousand people. By investing €5 million into promotion and advertising, the country is expecting not only to compensate the losses but to increase the tourist flow over the 2010 figures.

During a press conference by RIA Novost last Friday, Ilyes Fakhfakh, the country’s Minister of Tourism, said that Tunisia is expecting 230-250 thousand Russian tourists in 2012. This time the advertising budget for Russia will be tripled, compared to previous years. “We know that 15 million tourists leave Russia every year, so we’re hoping for increase in our tourist flow. Before the season we’re going to have a special tour for 150 people: journalists and tour operator representatives, so we can show what we’re capable of”, - stated Mr. Fakhfakh.

According to the minister, the overall inbound tourist flow in 2011 amounted to 5 million foreign tourists, whereas before the revolution the country managed to receive up to 7 million visitors per year. He assured that right now the country is safe for tourism, and problems with Libyan and Chadian refugees have been solved. Ilyes Fakhfakh also noted that tourism is still of utmost importance to the country’s economy, so the change of power will not affect the high service quality and the overall positive attitude towards foreigners.

Abderazzak Azuzzi, head of the Tunisia Tourist Office in Russia added that charter flights to Tunisia will be departing from 17 Russian cities, which is 30% more than last year. According to him, tour operators have planned to increase the number of flights by 48%, compared to 2011.