Tunisian Minister of Tourism Sofiane Tekaya Presides Over Regional Tourism Council Meeting
The Minister of Tourism, Sofiane Tekaya, chaired the second session of the Regional Tourism Council in Médenine, focusing on a series of measures aimed at improving the quality of the tourist destination, developing alternative tourism, and promoting local handicrafts.
Key Initiatives and Discussions
This meeting, held on the second day of his visit to the region, was marked by the signing of agreements for the "Parrainage Vert" program, a joint initiative between the Ministries of Tourism and Environment, as well as industry professionals. The program aims to strengthen cleanliness efforts, environmental maintenance, and aesthetic improvement of tourist areas. The minister praised the involvement of tourism professionals in supporting municipalities, emphasizing that the quality of urban environments is now a key factor in tourist attractiveness.
The Regional Tourism Council also assessed the progress of decisions made during the previous ministerial visit and reviewed preparations for the upcoming high tourist season. Discussions covered several topics, including:
- Tourist and handicraft projects
- Cultural and tourist animation programs
- Cleanliness campaigns
- Means of supporting investment and improving service quality in the region
Major Decisions and Announcements
Among the main decisions announced was the integration of the artisanal villages of Beni Khedache, Médenine, and Houmt Souk into tourist circuits to promote local products and strengthen cultural and alternative tourism. The Ministry of Tourism also reaffirmed its support for the "Drouj Sango" beach development project in Zarzis, calling on the Zarzis Nord municipality to complete and resubmit its application.
The ministry will accompany municipalities in preparing files for the Tourist Area Protection Fund, particularly for projects related to cleanliness, beautification, and improvement of tourist spaces. Authorities also confirmed the continuation of tourist classification procedures for the municipalities of Bougrara, Médenine, and Sidi Makhlouf.
Minister's Visit to Houmt Souk and Sidi Makhlouf
During his visit to Houmt Souk, the minister went to the artisanal products market in the Djerba medina, where he exchanged with artisans and merchants about the difficulties faced by the sector. Discussions focused on:
- Dynamizing commercial and tourist activity
- Improving marketing conditions
- Combating harmful practices, such as intermediaries and monopolies
The ministerial visit also continued in Sidi Makhlouf to monitor the progress of several alternative tourism projects and the entrance development project to the island of Djerba via the ferry, considered strategic for improving the destination's image among visitors.
Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Djerba Tourism Vocational Training Institute
The trip concluded with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Djerba Tourism Vocational Training Institute. On this occasion, the minister highlighted the institution's role in training Tunisian tourism sector skills and took note of the institute's modernization projects, aimed at adapting equipment and training programs to the new requirements of the tourist employment market.
