Tourism and Currency Exchange: A Tunisian Dilemma
Tourism brings in significant revenue for our country. At the same time, Tunisians travel abroad for various reasons and spend foreign currencies. The latest balance of payments figures indicate that tourist allocations totaled 1,462 million Tunisian dinars (Mtnd) in 2024, compared to 1,449.5 Mtnd in 2023. This amount includes expenses related to religious tourism, the grand pilgrimage, and Umrah.
The net revenue from tourism reached 5,852.9 Mtnd. These statistics explain the freeze on the tourist allocation, which is worth less than 2,000 dollars. Moreover, there is a small parallel market for foreign currencies in Tunisia, catering to individuals seeking to supplement their travel financing with a few hundred euros.
Our Algerian neighbors are allowed to export 7,500 euros per year, and Libyans have the means to spend in dollars, as evident from the inflows at currency exchange offices. It's time to open the door to PayPal or equivalent services. While collecting foreign currencies is not complicated, using them is. The new exchange code will not offer magical solutions, as we are a country with a foreign currency deficit.
Offering payment methods for freelancers with declared economic activities is necessary. The law could limit the use of funds to the balance, ensuring that the result is positive compared to the current situation.
