Djerba: A Treasure Trove of Tourism
Djerba, renowned for its charming towns like Midoun and Houmt Souk, remains a prized destination for tourists. Recently, the island has further enhanced its attractiveness by opening two new tourist information points, enriching its already varied offer.
A Unique Island
Djerba is a one-of-a-kind destination, boasting desert landscapes by the sea, palm and olive groves, ancient ruins, whitewashed villages, and diverse places of worship, including mosques, churches, and synagogues. The island has recently been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, becoming the ninth Tunisian site to receive this distinction. Its fame as a filming location for the Star Wars saga adds to its tourist appeal.
Inauguration of New Tourist Information Points
The inauguration ceremony of the new tourist information points took place yesterday, attended by Mohamed Moez Belhassine, Minister of Tourism, Saïd Ben Zayed, Governor of Médenine, Anne de Chambrier, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Tunisia, Hamda Zeramdini, Director of Swisscontact Tunisia, and Farhat Bentanfous, President of the Destination Management Organization (DMO) of Djerba. This project, initiated by the DMO in partnership with the municipalities of Midoun and Houmt Souk, the Festival Djerba-Midoun Association for Traditional Arts and Customs of Mediterranean Islands, and the Governorate of Médenine, is an unprecedented public-private partnership in the Tunisian tourism sector. The local authorities provided the premises, which were fully renovated, including the restoration of old buildings, main facades, sanitary blocks, and furniture.
A Global Quality Program
The Minister of Tourism took advantage of this occasion to officially inaugurate the tourist information offices in Midoun and Houmt Souk, part of a global quality program launched this year for the tourism and handicraft sectors. Another tourist information point was inaugurated in Hammamet, inviting tourists to discover Tunisia beyond hotels. The Minister highlighted the importance of these offices, which provide accurate and useful information to visitors, enabling them to experience a unique cultural and tourist experience.
Innovative Cultural and Gastronomic Experiences
Visitors can discover innovative cultural and gastronomic experiences and download the Djerba Guide mobile app for free upon arrival at the airport. Information about the app will be available in the airport corridors, facilitating the tourist experience from the start. They can also purchase various souvenirs from the Destination Djerba brand, featuring local handicrafts and terroir products, as well as culinary and travel guides.
Partnership and Quality Control
The Minister of Tourism expressed his satisfaction with the project's realization and thanked all involved parties, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in promoting tourist destinations. These offices support the efforts of regional delegations and tourist information offices under the Tunisian National Tourism Office. The Minister also stressed the need to monitor the distribution channels of handicraft products and ensure the authenticity of Tunisian products in dedicated stores. During his visit, he supervised an inspection campaign in Midoun, accompanied by the Governor of Médenine and regional directors of commerce and handicrafts, to verify the quality of handicraft products and combat counterfeiting.
Project Financing
The rehabilitation of the two tourist information points, costing 190,000 dinars, is part of the "Destination South-East Tunisia" (DES-SE) project, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the Swisscontact Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Tunisian National Tourism Office.