More than 7 million tourists per year visit Tunisia and many are repeat visitors, happy to have discovered the delights of this small slice of North Africa for themselves. Tunisia is an eclectic mix of Muslim and secular, East-meets-West, traditional and progressive, offering a taste of the Arabic culture yet just a stone’s throw from home.
Tunisia is just a three hour flight from London, and most European and American visitors do not require a visa to enjoy a holiday in this exotic paradise. With a mild Mediterranean climate, it is a year-round destination for those wanting to enjoy golf, swimming, diving, sailing, sunbathing and other beach activities. Even in January, daytime highs average 16C, rising to 34C in the heights of the long dry summer.
Tunisia has a comparatively low cost of living, allowing visitors to sample sweet pastries or dine out on fresh fish for a fraction of the cost of similar experiences elsewhere. Hotels and apartments offer high standards at competitive prices, making your pound, dollar or euro stretch a long way. Another consideration is that Tunisia is socially and politically stable. It accepts gender equality and welcomes westernised visitors with genuine warmth.
With 810 miles of coastline and gorgeous beaches, Tunisia is ideal for sunseekers and families, but for those with an adventurous spirit and a curious mind, it offers much more. The country has wealth of history stretching back over 3000 years to when Carthage dominated the Western Mediterranean. The Cathaginian, Byzantine, Phoenician, Roman and Ottoman Empires have all left their mark on the culture and archaeology of this fascinating country. Visit the Roman Temple in Dougga, the Phoenician port of Utica, see the remains of Roman villas at Bulla Regia, the Triumphal Arch at Haidra and be amazed at the size of El Jem’s Coliseum. The Bardo Museum near Tunis boasts the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world.
Those more interested in religious architecture will marvel at the Zitouna Mosque in the heart of the Medina in Tunis. This Great Mosque dates back to 864AD and was an early medieval university. Its counterpart at Kairouan is even more impressively finished, with a magnificently pillared colonnade and a courtyard designed to accommodate thousands of pilgrims.
From the coast, visitors can take trips into the Sahara in 4×4 vehicles to see spectacular desert scenery and learn how the Berbers survive in this inhospitable terrain. Visit a local village, ride a camel, taste fresh dates and see local shepards living a life little changed over many centuries.
Tunisia’s cultural heritage can be appreciated in the handicrafts on offer in the local souks. Visitors can barter over hand-engraved copper and brassware, woven rugs, hand-knotted carpets, decorative baskets, silk weaving and carved trinkets. Blue and white pottery and hand-painted tiles make wonderful souvenirs. These lovely crafts all attest to the ancient skills kept alive from generation to generation. Local festivals offer a wonderful opportunity for visitors to appreciate Tunisia’s cultural heritage with Maaloof music, drama, falconry and horseriding skills, which should not be missed.
Tunisia’s appeal is set to continue with its new airports and hotels providing for the growing demand of visitors. With a burgeoning health tourism industry to add to its successes, the question is not “Why Tunisia?” but “Why not?”
