Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik expressed optimism at the prospects of the 2018 tourist season.
We are expecting to receive at least 8 million tourists this year, against over 7 million tourists that had generated revenues in foreign currency of about 2.8 million Tunisian dinars in 2017, she pointed out.
Inaugurating on Wednesday the 24th edition of the Tunisian tourism Fair MIT 2018 that will run until March 3 at El Kram Exhibition Centre, Elloumi told reporters the number of Algerian tourists who have visited Tunisia to date has increased by over 30%.
A visit to Russia will be conducted next week to hold meetings with Russian tour operators and tourism officials, she pointed out.
Tourist arrivals have reached 662,680 thousand visitors until February 20, 2018, i.e. a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2017, Chief of Staff of the Tourism Minister Nabil Bezouich told TAP.
Tourist receipts have increased by 16%, to date reaching 245 MD, he added.
However, tourist overnight stays have dropped by 6%, to 706 thousand at the end of January 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
MIT Organiser Afif Kchouk said the fairs new edition is being held this year under the sign of recovery. It saw the participation of 120 exhibitors specialising in five fields related to tourism, travel and leisure, thalassotherapy and spa, hotel and restaurant equipment and services, boating and water activities, golf and sport equipment.
The handicraft sector and regions will also be present in MIT this year in addition to the participation of several foreign countries such as Cameroon, Indonesia, Italy, France and Turkey.
Some 13 conferences and workshops will be organised at "MIT 2018", which aims to develop sustainable, environmental and eco-friendly tourism, he added.
Tap 2018 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
