The US Agency for International Development (USAID) officially launched its Visit Tunisia Activity on February 2, kicking off a five-year, $50 million project to design and promote experience-based tourism throughout Tunisia.
The project’s launch event, held in the archeological site of Sbeitla in west-central Tunisia, was attended by US Ambassador Donald Blome and high-ranking Tunisian government officials, including Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Mohamed Moez Belhassine and Kasserine Governor Adel Mabrouk.
“I’m happy to be with you here today in beautiful Kasserine to officially launch Visit Tunisia,” said Ambassador Blome at the kick-off ceremony. “Visit Tunisia will develop tourism products and services beyond the coastal regions, as well as upgrade tourism destinations, such as this magnificent site here in Sbeitla.
US Ambassador Donald Blome speaks in front of the Roman archeological site of Sbeitla, which contains the best-preserved Roman forum temples in Tunisia, on February 2, 2022.
Working hand in hand with Tunisia’s Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, Visit Tunisia will capitalize on the country’s rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage to attract new international tourists year-round, especially to underserved areas that are often overlooked. By 2026, the project aims to generate 10,000 new sustainable tourism-related jobs in underserved communities and increase the number of tourists per year to 11.3 million.
Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Moez Belhassine delivers remarks at Visit Tunisia’s official launch event, on February 2, 2022.
Tunisia’s vital tourism sector, which employs more than 400,000 Tunisians across the country, has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and will greatly benefit from the fresh development support and investment, Ambassador Blome emphasized.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the tourism sector,” Blome said. “Visit Tunisia is a visible commitment from the U.S. Government to assist in the recovery and long-term growth of this critical sector of the economy, which employs more than 400,000 Tunisians across the country.”
Representatives of Tunisia’s tourism ministry, local Tunisian authorities, US Embassy officials, and the Visit Tunisia Activity’s chief of party are pictured at the Visit Tunisia launch event, on February 2, 2022.
To help the industry recover and thrive, Visit Tunisia will emphasize year-round tourism beyond the narrow summer season, leading to an increase in tour operators selling Tunisia as a destination. The project’s multifaceted support includes the design of tailored marketing campaigns, tourism training assistance, strategic product development, and investment facilitation for hard-hit tourism operators. It will also utilize key public-private partnerships and digital innovations to multiply its impact, focusing on support for women and youth in the industry.
“The U.S. Government is committed to driving economic growth and creating jobs,” added Blome in his remarks. “...Forward leaning projects, such as Visit Tunisia, capitalize on (Tunisia’s) rich and unique natural, cultural, and historical endowments.”
