For years, Tunisian tourism has been subject to reforms that are slow to materialize and strategies that exist only in speeches. Is this due to outdated laws and regulations governing the sector, or to governance structures that are “in tatters,” as the then minister responsible said in 2017?
It is tempting to answer “a bit of both,” given how much Tunisian tourism is struggling to live up to its potential as a destination that was once the leading one in Africa and the Arab world.
In three episodes, El Mindhar Essiyahi attempts to evaluate the Tunisian tourism governance system. First, by examining the overall framework of the governance system, then through the choice and implementation of strategies, and finally through the function of promoting the destination.
Between the lines, we will attempt to characterize the role of professionals and their representative organizations. Do these professionals play a “proactive” role and do they give themselves the means to do so? Are professional federations also “in tatters”, like the “supervisory structures”? Is the relationship between the administration and private operators one of cooperation or conflict?
By Lotfi Mansour, tourism consultant (former director of specialized magazines; initiator and Honorary President of the Tunisia Convention Bureau).
Production: MCM.