Record Tourist Arrivals in Tunisia
In 2024, and for the first time, non-resident arrivals, including Tunisians living abroad, exceeded 10 million visitors, showing a 9.5% increase over the previous year. The total number of visitors reached 10.248 million for the entire year, generating 24.468 million overnight stays. These tourist flows enabled record revenues of 7,600 million Tunisian dinars (MTND).
Key Statistics
- Average revenue per overnight stay: 311 TND
- Average expenditure per visitor: 742 TND
- Comparison with Egypt: average expenditure per overnight stay of around $112 (330 TND)
However, these figures should be nuanced. The actual expenditure figures are higher, as official statistics do not fully capture the expenditures of Tunisians living abroad, who often prefer renting apartments or houses to hotel stays. The average expenditure per stay for tourists is estimated to be around 1,300 TND. This average remains lower than that of comparable destinations like Morocco, which reports an average expenditure per tourist of around $625 (1,840 TND).
Explaining the Gap
The difference can be explained mainly by the structure of the offer and the clientele. Tunisian tourism still relies heavily on a beach-based offer, while Morocco focuses more on cultural and urban tourism with higher added value. Additionally, the composition of arrivals in Tunisia, with a strong presence of Maghrebian tourists (notably Libyans), influences the distribution of expenditures. These visitors, who are familiar with the country, often opt for seasonal rentals and allocate their budget to local grocery stores and shops rather than traditional tourist circuits and restaurants.
The Need for Fiscal Reform
The parallel economy affects not only industrial products but also services. Only a profound fiscal reform that reduces tax burdens can integrate the flows that currently escape taxation.
