Tunisia has welcomed 380,000 British tourists so far in 2025, a figure that signals a full return of a vital market.
Data from the Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT) reveals a dramatic surge, with arrivals as of October 20 up 42% compared to 2024 and nearly double (98%) the figures from 2019. This growth trajectory is expected to see over 425,000 British visitors by the end of the year, matching the benchmark levels last seen in 2014—the year before a devastating attack in Sousse severely impacted the tourism industry.
“The image of Tunisia on the British market is very positive, particularly over the last two years, where the British tourist has returned in force to the Tunisian destination,” said Fakhri Khalsi, the ONTT’s representative in London, in a recent national radio address.
The rebound is being fueled by a significant restoration of air links. For the upcoming winter season, 52 weekly flights are scheduled from the UK to Tunisian airports, with service set to expand to 78 weekly flights from 16 British cities during the summer of 2026. This renewed accessibility, coupled with improved security and promotional campaigns, has revitalized a market that had seen a massive withdrawal of tour operators and suspended flights a decade ago.
This return of British tourists is part of a broader European resurgence in Tunisia. Industry reports note a country-wide 48% increase in British tourism through June 2025, with the British Embassy forecasting around 400,000 visitors for the year, crediting improved security for restoring trust. The revival is palpable at coastal resorts, where managers report that over 90% of their European clientele is now British.
The projected year-end total of 425,000 British visitors would mark a definitive milestone, closing a difficult chapter and restoring the UK as one of Tunisia’s most important tourism sources.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
