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606 Tunisia
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PAULINE J. SHELDON, USA
Tunisia
The Tunisian government launched a mass
tourism development strategy in 1942 and
has since undertaken a major hotel construction
programme to capitalise on the country's 800-mile
Mediterranean coastline. During the 1970s and
1980s, the number of lodging facilities more than
doubled and the bed capacity more than tripled,
making Tunisia one of the fastest growing tourism
economies in the world. Industry officials estimate
that more than 200,000 beds should be in place by
the end of the century. Although the majority of
facilities are in the capital of Tunis, most growth
has been seen in the coastal areas of Nabeul-
Hammamet, the Sahel or eastern littoral, and
Djerba-Gades. With the Right Development Plan
�1992±6) the government began shifting some
tourism development resources to the interior
zones in Kebili, Tozeur and Gafsa in Tunisia's
exotic southwest.
The growth of the industry has been rapid and
the capital investment has been intense, particularly
since the 1970s, and shows no sign of levelling
off as entries have maintained a steady rise
excepting the year of the Gulf War �1991). Entries
into Tunisia show that tourism is very Eurocentric.
Although there is a large influx of North African
tourists, Europeans stay much longer and spend
more money. Due to Tunisia's historical ties with
France, most have been French tourists. However,
government strategies to promote Tunisia's winter
`fun in the sun' appeal have resulted in more
German and Scandinavian tourists. Efforts by the
Ministry of Tourism to attract more North
American tourists have also begun to show success.
Once a small market share, the US and Canadian
entries into Tunisia have steadily increased since
1989. The ratification of the Bilateral Investment
Treaty between the United States and Tunisia will
undoubtedly accelerate the growth of that market.
The economic benefits of tourism to Tunisia
have been excellent. Trade statistics clearly show
tourism's primary position and its role in reducing
the trade deficit. In addition to its value as a foreign
exchange source, this dynamic aspect of Tunisia's
economic profile has alleviated the country's high
unemployment rate. Although tourism does create
many low-skill jobs, the government has countered