Can you share a summary of your professional background and what led you into Tourism?

I arrived in London in March 1972,  after working as a handyman at London Zoo and also in several restaurants.

I enrolled at the bespoke West London College Marketing section. In 1977,  I had finished a spell at the Tunisian Tourism office in London until 1982, when I started as a Sales Manager at Alpha Tours in London. This particular tour operator featured countries including Egypt, Morocco, Malta and Tunisia. In 1984, I became the General Manager of Alpha Tours.  After that, I worked as an Agent for jazz singers based in Soho, London, after which I joined the Tunisian Agency for External Communication based in central London in 1989.

In 1995, I joined the Tunisian National Tourist Office, where I am still working to date.

 

 

What new strategies is Tunisia using to attract travellers looking for something different from the typical Mediterranean holiday?

Besides the traditional beach family holidays, we choose to promote sustainable and eco-friendly tourism and the cultural aspects of Tunisia, which includes nine UNESCO Heritage sites.

We have over 3,000 years of history in our culture and we have also created several unique tourism 'routes' which include bespoke Tunisian culinary, cinematic and cultural experiences for visitors.

 

 

With more families and solo parents travelling, how is Tunisia adapting to meet the needs of these growing visitor groups?

Over the years, Tunisia has been adapting to new trends and the needs of visitors. These include new adventure facilities, Thalassotherapy spas and events that involve the local traditional way of life. We have tailored excursions to many local villages so visitors can really feel immersed in the Tunisian lifestyle. We are known for our traditional pastry making. We also make our own rose water and olive oil. You will see many beautiful, coloured ceramics that are handmade in our shops. Additionally, we make a variety of beautiful, handmade rugs.

Our range of hotels caters to all types of families, multi-generational groups, solo travellers and anyone who likes luxury hotels with private beaches, while also soaking up the traditional Tunisian atmosphere and our dining options cater for every palate.

 

 

Are there any under-the-radar destinations or experiences in Tunisia that you feel visitors should know about?

Specific to Tunisia, wine making, mainly in the Cap Bon area, olive oil production, which is all over Tunisia, and the production of dates is mainly in the Tozeur area, where they have over eight million palm trees. Not many people realise we have the El Jem Amphitheatre located in the heart of Tunisia. The difference with these inspiring ruins is that there are no queues and you will be mesmerised by how intact and preserved it is; they also have impressive underground passages. It was featured in Monty Python's movie, The Life of Brian.

We have many movie sets that you can visit that were made around Tunisia, like Star Wars, I mentioned The Life of Brian, The English Patient, The Return of the Pink Panther and many more...

The Bourguiba Mausoleum in the seaside town of Monastir (where they also filmed The Life of Brian) is a very special place for Tunisians to visit too. It is a monumental grave containing the remains of former president Habib Bourguiba, the father of Tunisian independence, who died on April 6, 2000.

 

 

In your opinion, has traveller behaviour changed in recent years, and what trends are you seeing in what visitors want from a Tunisian holiday today?

When visiting a destination, I do feel that visitors tend to look for a more memorable and experiential holiday. Which is what makes Tunisia so appealing - you can mix with the locals, visit some impressive Roman ruins sites, you are guaranteed great weather all year round and now from Dublin, you can fly direct in 3.5 hours.

I also think that travellers are more aware of the natural environment and as well as seeing these incredible historical sites, they are also looking to learn about different cultures. It's that global understanding from travelling that visitors want to experience and they can get all this and so much more in Tunisia.

 

 

 

 

Contact Moncef for any inquiries about Tunisia here - moncef.battikh@discovertunisia.uk  

www.discovertunisia.com