The tourism sector, one of the country's most important economic branches and foreign currency earners, has been in crisis since the 2011 revolution. Tunisia's beach tourism destinations on the Mediterranean coast are under pressure from international competition and outdated all-inclusive package concepts are limiting growth and hindering the potential for innovation.

This project fits directly into the strategic line of Switzerland in Tunisia, under the objective of private sector development and competitiveness. It also responds to the Tunisian government's desire to develop sustainable tourism outside major tourist areas.

The aim is to create new, long-term employment opportunities in tourism that will involve existing and new economic sectors, thereby creating added value across the entire region and including a multitude of actors. Through a newly created "destination management orgainsation" (DMO), administrated by local actors within a public-private partnership, alternative tourism products will be developed. Future visitors will enjoy new and attractive eco-cultural tourism products not yet offered by existing travel agencies, such as multiday journeys in a region close to Djerba, with high, but yet unexploited potential.

Outcome 1: Actors coordination and implementation of DMO

Outcome 2: Marketing focussed on the Dahar region

Outcome 3: Improved offer of services (gastronomy, hospitality, touristic maps, waste management)

Principaux résultats attendus:  

Roundtables with local actors, including the set-up of the DMO structure

professionalization of communication on the touristic products of the region,

Professionalization of current accommodation possibilities (holiday apartments and hospitality) and gastronomy

Appreciation of the heritage of the local culture

Appreciation of hiking tourism

Analsyis of the geological and paleontological heritage

Improvement of artisanal product quality

Efficient waste management (accommodation and gastronomy)

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

This project is based on three evaluations in this region which confirmed the keen interest from local actors and identified high potential and opportunity with respect to Tunisia’s cultural heritage.

Phase 1 01.01.2014 - 30.08.2019   (Completed)