The demand for holidays in Tunisia among organized Russian tourists increased in 2019, and for some travel agencies, the destination accounts up to 20% of total sales.

Around 632 000 Russian holidaymakers have visited Tunisia in the first eleven months of 2019, a 5% increase in numbers from last year. Russia ranks second in the number of tourists visiting Tunisia.

The tourist flow from Russia to Tunisia will be about 635 thousand people, which is 5% more than last year. The Tunisian authorities intend to make the country a year-round destination.

Since April 29, 2020, Nordwind Airlines starts charter flights from Kaluga airport to Antalya (Turkey) and from May 23, 2020 to Heraklion (Greece) and Monastir (Tunisia).

Last summer, Tunisia retained the title of one of the most popular beach destinations among Russian tourists. For several years, the resorts of the Republic have positioned themselves as year-round ones.

ATOR has announced preliminary results of 2019 based on the statistics for the three quarters of this year.

Over the past few years the demand for Tunisia has tripled. By the way, at the moment, travelers visit the Republic not only in the summer season, but also in winter time.

In January-June 2019, citizens of the Russian Federation made 21 212 095 trips abroad. This is 6.67% more than in the same period of the last year. Turkey became the leader of outbound tourism, Italy is growing rapidly and tourist flow to Thailand has slightly decreased.

The tourist authorities of Tunisia and the Russian tour operators have confirmed the stability of the Russian tourist flow to the resorts of the country. By the results of 2019, the North African country hopes to increase the number of Russian arrivals. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Tunisia, over the first half of the year, the country hosted 3.8 million foreign tourists, which is 17% more than in the same period of 2018. 

Several members of the Federation Council advised Russian tourists to refuse tours to Tunisia due to security reasons. In their opinion, the radical militants will now select tourist zones for terrorist attacks. 

This year Tunisia has maintained its position in the top lines of the ranking of the most popular summer destinations among Russian tourists. According to representatives of the tourism business, the demand for the destination is so high that tourists cannot wait for the last minute offers. In general, following the results of the year, the country counts on a 15% increase in tourist traffic from the Russian Federation. 

This was announced at a press conference in Moscow by the Minister of Tourism of Tunisia, René Trabelsi. Tour operators also talk about the positive dynamics of early booking. According to Mr. Trabelsi, in 2018 Tunisia hosted 630 thousand Russians, and in 2019 it already counts on 725-750 thousand (this is 20% more in annual terms). 

The interest of Russian tourists to Tunisia is increasing. However, the experts’ opinion on the growth in demand is different. So, the majority believes the number of sells have increased by 10–20% compared to last year’s figures, while Biblio-Globus notes 150% growth of sales on early booking stage.

Already at the early booking stage Tunisia shows a rapid increase in sales compared with last year. This was a signal for some players to expand their flight charter programs to this country. According to tour operators, the demand for tours to Tunisia for the season-2019 has increased significantly: participants report that sales growth from 30% to several times.

The demand for tours to Tunisia has noticeably activated this year. The rate of early booking is 20% higher than last year. The increase mainly occurs due to the redistribution of tourists from the more expensive Turkish destination. 

In this winter season, two tour operators - ANEX Tour and PEGAS Touristik - perform charter flights to Tunisia. The flight program of ANEX Tour to Djerba, as in the last season, will be carried out only from Moscow. The flights will be operated from the beginning of December 2018 through March 2019, 2 times a week on the wings of AZUR air on Wednesdays and Sundays.

“The demand of Russians for tours to Tunisia has almost tripled”, - reported the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) with reference to the data of tour companies. "Tunisia is confidently included in the TOP 5 of popular destinations this summer, demonstrating a high sales dynamic.

Tunisia authorities published statistics of arrivals of Russian tourists from January 1 to May 20. The growth is 46% more than in the last year. Summer, according to the data of tour operators, also promises growth - even in conditions of competition with Turkey - the incredibly popular destination in this season.

“The Russian tourist flow to Tunisia in 2018 may increase up to 800 thousand people”, - said Salma El-Lumi El-Rakik the Minister of Tourism of the country. According to her, 600 thousand Russian tourists visited Tunisia in 2016, in 2017 the tourist flow decreased slightly due to the opening of Turkey on the Russian market.

“ANEX Tour tour operator prolongs the flight program to Tunisia on the route Moscow-Djerba-Moscow and extends the range of tours which include a course of thalassotherapy”, - reports the press service of the company. The flight program to Djerba Island will be prolonged until January.

Some tour operators have decided to extend flight programs to Tunisia. As the representative of ANEX Tour Company told, the tour operator decided to transport passengers to Djerba island all the winter season round. This was announced at the annual ANEX Tour conference at the Tunisian Hammamet resort held from 5 to 12 October.

“Tunisair has launched regular flights from Pulkovo Airport (St. Petersburg) to Monastir (Tunisia)”, - reports the press service of the Air Portal of the LLC Northern Capital. The flights are performed twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays by Airbus A320 airplanes. Earlier, the carrier performed flights to St. Petersburg in 2013 from two cities in Tunisia - Monastir and Enfidha.