Tunisian tourism conquers the Libyan market
20 December 2013
Read by 1743 persons
Libyan tourists are highly valued in Tunisia because of their high spending habits, unlike other tourists, especially Europeans. Libyan tourists spend an average of 500 dinars per day, compared to 103 dinars per day for European tourists. According to the latest figures released by the tourism department, in 2012, the Libyan market generated foreign exchange revenue for Tunisia estimated at 513 million dinars, with two main sectors: health and leisure tourism.
The number of Libyan tourists who visited Tunisia until the end of November 2013 reached approximately 2 million, compared to 1.7 million during the corresponding period of 2012. Of these 2 million tourists, about 20% stayed in hotels; the rest opted for renting, according to a source from the Ministry of Tourism.
Tunisian-Libyan tourism cooperation program
As part of increasing tourist flows between Tunisia and Libya, an executive program for the 2014-2015 period has been implemented. According to the tourism department, this program provides for the organization of irregular flights, in addition to regular lines, between the two countries to increase tourist flows in both directions.
Similarly, the program aims to facilitate entry and exit procedures at border crossings for Tunisian and Libyan travelers and the promotion of a mixed tourism product in international tourism events.
The same source also notes the implementation of other actions, including encouraging the private sector to create mixed tourism projects in both countries and promoting investment opportunities in the sector in both Tunisia and Libya.
And it is in this context that it was decided to allocate 4 places for Libyan students in the various Tunisian schools of tourism and hospitality, starting with the 2014-2015 school year.
Reacting to this program and in a telephone interview with Africanmanager, Wahid Ibrahim, the former director of the ONTT, stated that the Libyan market is not structured, and the implementation of this program first requires a good understanding of the attitudes and expectations of the Libyan tourist who, according to him, prefers to rent houses rather than spend their holidays in hotels. He added that security is a priority, especially in Libya, and a prerequisite for any effort to further develop Tunisian tourism in the Libyan market and promote Libyan tourist flows to Tunisia.
On another issue and commenting on the initiative to allocate 4 places for Libyan students in the various Tunisian schools of tourism and hospitality, the former director of the ONTT recommended the need to train young Tunisians in the field and to prioritize the creation of jobs for these young people in Libyan hotels.
Tourist flow figures indicate that the Libyan market is still progressing, despite the ups and downs recorded in other markets, including that of neighboring Algeria, which until recently presented similar characteristics. Moreover, according to the latest figures released by the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT), from January 1 to November 30, 2013, the vast majority of tourist arrivals were Libyans (2,115,302), followed by Algerians (824,759).
Europeans, with the French holding the top spot with 741,495 tourists, followed by Germans (414,195), British (400,563), Russians (296,133), and Italians (223,785).
N.B.T
Africanmanager.com
Published December 16, 2013.
Posted online December 20, 2013.
The number of Libyan tourists who visited Tunisia until the end of November 2013 reached approximately 2 million, compared to 1.7 million during the corresponding period of 2012. Of these 2 million tourists, about 20% stayed in hotels; the rest opted for renting, according to a source from the Ministry of Tourism.
Tunisian-Libyan tourism cooperation program
As part of increasing tourist flows between Tunisia and Libya, an executive program for the 2014-2015 period has been implemented. According to the tourism department, this program provides for the organization of irregular flights, in addition to regular lines, between the two countries to increase tourist flows in both directions.
Similarly, the program aims to facilitate entry and exit procedures at border crossings for Tunisian and Libyan travelers and the promotion of a mixed tourism product in international tourism events.
The same source also notes the implementation of other actions, including encouraging the private sector to create mixed tourism projects in both countries and promoting investment opportunities in the sector in both Tunisia and Libya.
And it is in this context that it was decided to allocate 4 places for Libyan students in the various Tunisian schools of tourism and hospitality, starting with the 2014-2015 school year.
Reacting to this program and in a telephone interview with Africanmanager, Wahid Ibrahim, the former director of the ONTT, stated that the Libyan market is not structured, and the implementation of this program first requires a good understanding of the attitudes and expectations of the Libyan tourist who, according to him, prefers to rent houses rather than spend their holidays in hotels. He added that security is a priority, especially in Libya, and a prerequisite for any effort to further develop Tunisian tourism in the Libyan market and promote Libyan tourist flows to Tunisia.
On another issue and commenting on the initiative to allocate 4 places for Libyan students in the various Tunisian schools of tourism and hospitality, the former director of the ONTT recommended the need to train young Tunisians in the field and to prioritize the creation of jobs for these young people in Libyan hotels.
Tourist flow figures indicate that the Libyan market is still progressing, despite the ups and downs recorded in other markets, including that of neighboring Algeria, which until recently presented similar characteristics. Moreover, according to the latest figures released by the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT), from January 1 to November 30, 2013, the vast majority of tourist arrivals were Libyans (2,115,302), followed by Algerians (824,759).
Europeans, with the French holding the top spot with 741,495 tourists, followed by Germans (414,195), British (400,563), Russians (296,133), and Italians (223,785).
N.B.T
Africanmanager.com
Published December 16, 2013.
Posted online December 20, 2013.
