Tunisia’s tourism industry is enjoying a robust rebound in 2025, with 5.297 million visitors recorded by July 20—a 9.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024, and a 16.2% rise over 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The figures were announced by Mehdi Helloui, Director General of the National Tourism Office, during a press conference on August 2.
Building on the momentum of 2024—when Tunisia welcomed 9.7 million tourists—officials are optimistic about surpassing 11 million arrivals by the end of 2025. In 2024, tourism contributed around 9% of the country’s GDP and supported approximately 400,000 jobs. Revenues from the sector reached TND 7.05 billion (roughly \$2.2 billion), reflecting a 7.8% year-on-year increase.
So far in 2025, tourism revenues have already climbed to TND 3.998 billion (\$1.28 billion), according to the Central Bank of Tunisia—an 8.2% jump from the same period last year. Hotel activity also picked up, with 12.36 million overnight stays (+7.1% y/y) and a 35.3% overall occupancy rate, up 2.1 percentage points from 2024.
European and Maghreb Markets Drive Growth
European tourists have been a key driver of the 2025 surge, with arrivals from the region increasing 10.7% year-on-year to reach 1.592 million visitors. France led the way with a 9.6% rise, followed by the UK (+46.9%), Italy (+11.6%), Switzerland (+17.6%), and Ireland, which posted a striking 97% increase.
Maghreb countries also maintained their strong presence. A total of 2.748 million visitors came from the region, including 1.459 million Algerians and 1.246 million Libyans, marking a 9.8% year-on-year rise.
Other international markets posted more modest growth: the United States (+4.9%), Canada (+7.5%), and China (+15%).
Rise in Domestic Tourism and New Digital Initiatives
Domestic tourism now makes up around 30% of total tourism activity. To further boost internal travel, authorities are preparing to launch a digital hotel booking platform specifically for Tunisian citizens.
Tunisians are also traveling abroad in greater numbers, with over 805,000 outbound trips recorded so far in 2025—up 7.5% year-on-year.
Investment Surpasses 2024 Levels
Tourism investment intentions have surged, reaching TND 943 million by the end of July—already surpassing the full-year total for 2024.
With rising revenues, expanded international interest, and a growing domestic market, Tunisia’s tourism sector appears firmly on track for a record-breaking year.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Editorial Staff)
