Tunisian Tourism Federation Calls for Revised 2026-2027 Winter School Holiday Schedule

The Interprofessional Federation of Tunisian Tourism (FI2T) has called for a review of the 2026-2027 winter school holiday calendar. The federation proposes extending the break period until January 1, 2027, aiming to allow families to better enjoy year-end tourism offerings and to support business activity across the sector.

Strategic Rationale for Extension

In a statement released on Friday, October 9, 2026, the FI2T argued that the current schedule—which sets holidays from December 14 to 27, 2026—limits opportunities to develop travel packages centered around the year-end festivities. Historically, this period serves as a key driver for domestic tourism, largely fueled by family travel.

Broader Industry Impact

The implications of this change extend well beyond the hotel industry. A revised calendar could positively impact:

Travel agencies
Alternative accommodation providers
Restaurants and food services
Other tourism service providers

For these businesses, a longer holiday period could help sustain demand and ensure a more balanced distribution of activity throughout the end of the year.

Proposal for Regional Rotation

In addition to extending the duration of the break, the FI2T has proposed implementing a rotation system for school holidays across the country’s five regions. The primary objectives of this strategy are to:

Distribute tourist traffic more efficiently, particularly to inland regions.
Alleviate pressure on accommodation capacities in popular coastal destinations.
Enhance travel conditions for a wider number of families by reducing peak-time congestion.

Supporting Seasonal Employment

The federation also highlighted the importance of seasonal employment. According to the FI2T, a prolonged holiday period could extend the active working season for tourism workers, many of whom rely on income generated during short, high-demand periods.

Next Steps

It is important to note that these proposals remain professional requests at this stage. No official changes to the school calendar have been confirmed. Implementation would require further dialogue with the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders.