Tourism in Tunisia

Among Tunisia's tourist attractions are its cosmopolitan capital city of Tunis, the ancient ruins of Carthage, the Muslim and Jewish quarters of Djerba, and coastal resorts outside Monastir.

"[1] Garrett Nagle, in his book Advanced Geography, Tunisia's tourist industry "benefits from its Mediterranean location and its tradition of low-cost package holidays from Western Europe.

Up to the turn of the century, Tunisia's main attraction was on its northeast coastline around Tunis; however, the Seventh National Development Plan of 1989 created several new tourist areas including the resort at Port El Kantaoui[2] The tourism sector now represents 6.5% of Tunisia's GDP and provides 340,000 jobs, 85,000 of which are direct, accounting for 11.5% of the working population, with a significant share of seasonal employment.

[5] However, the country quickly recovered its position as a top destination in Africa and the Mediterranean, with 2018 numbers exceeding those of 2010 by 6%, reaching a record 8.3 million visitors.

Its yachting infrastructure attracts mostly European tourists who flee the harsh winter in their home countries to enjoy the pleasant weather and relatively warmer sea in Tunisia.

Since the Arab invasions on Tunisia, a growing population settled in the arid environment of the Numidian regions Medenine, Tataouine and Tozeur where they created oases as havens and also souks and old towns as new urban centers.

[19] Taking a horse carriage to visit the oases and to taste the delicious Deglet Nour as well as going to Chott el Djerid, the largest salt lake in the Sahara Desert are must-do activities in the region.

[20] The canyons and rocky mountains of the south as in Mides and the Berber village of Chebika, Tozeur can be visited while taking the old and luxurious Lézard rouge train for a few ride hours stopping at many natural stations.

With George Lucas's inspiration for Star Wars protagonist Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine coming from Tunisia, the Tunisian City Tataouine and Matmata's underground houses became tourist destinations.