Chinese, Russians shore up Middle East tourism

Chinese and Russian visitors boosted Middle Eastern tourism last year following a 2016 slump as Europeans gave the area a wide berth on security fears, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO). The Mideast region as a whole drew 58 million foreign tourists in 2017 — a 4.8 percent rise on the previous year — the Madrid-based WTO said in its latest figures released midweek. Jihadist attacks on tourist sites in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey in recent years particularly hit the industry. But “over time, people forget and return,” said…

Tunisair direct flights to Cameroon soon

Tunisia’s flagship carrier, Tunisair has resolved to introduce direct flights to Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala. The Cameroonian National Aeronautics Authority (CCAA) said in a statement that the route would “meet the strong demand in Cameroon and strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries”. A delegation of Tunisair officials recently visited Cameroon to discuss and learn about the procedure for obtaining an air service operating permit for the establishment of this air link. The goal is to operate direct flights, connecting two cities without changing flight numbers. CCAA Managing Director,…

Leoni : Some 1,200 additional jobs to be created next April

“Leoni Tunisia”, specialising in the manufacture of cables for cars, plans to expand its activities next April to create at least 1,200 additional jobs Prime Minister Youssed said, TAP reports He commened the economic size and the social weight of this company which employs more than 16 thousand managers and workers in its subsidiaries located in Messadine and Mateur. He stressed that the government is determined to overcome the difficulties and establish facilities and incentives for Tunisian and foreign investors, in light of the positive beginnings in the fields of…

EBRD Lends Figeac Aéro €38 Mln for Expansion in Morocco & Tunisia

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has lent French aerospace manufacturer Figeac Aéro SA €38 million to finance its production expansion in Morocco and Tunisia. The EBRD loan will support the transfer of skills and advanced technology and an improvement in local quality standards towards international levels. The creation of new jobs in countries with high levels of unemployment will also make a positive contribution to the economies of Morocco and Tunisia. The investment will specifically address the issue of youth unemployment by offering young technicians and engineering students…

IMF does not want austerity in Tunisia: spokesman

The International Monetary Fund does not want austerity in Tunisia, and in fact proposed programs to protect the poor from the impact of economic reforms, a Fund spokesman said Thursday. Several hundred people have been arrested in Tunisia since social unrest erupted a week ago, fuelled by unemployment, corruption and austerity measures in the 2018 budget. “The frustration the Tunisian people are feeling is understandable,” said IMF spokesman Gerry Rice, speaking on the anniversary of the 2011 Tunisian uprising that launched the Arab Spring. However, he defended the institution against…

Spanish hotels fear Brits will choose cheap breaks in Tunisia this summer

SPAIN’S holiday hot spots have been warned they need to find ways to prevent British tourists from being tempted away by cheap holidays to places such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia this summer. Hotel bosses say they have “no hope” of competing on price as all inclusive one-week holidays at five-star hotels in Turkey can cost as little as €400. They claim that Spain can’t rely on holidaymakers who have been avoiding Arab countries over safety fears any more. Dubbed as “the borrowed tourists” they have been travelling in Spain,…

Tunisia Seeks Buyer for Majority Stake in Carthage Cement

he Tunisian government has opened a public bid for the sale of its majority stake in Carthage Cement. Carthage Cement S.A is a public company which is specializes in the production of cement, aggregates and concrete. The Tunisian State and Bina Corp are the controlling shareholders of Carthage Cement S.A with 52 percent stake in the cement firm. A statement issued by the sellers explained that the company would be sold to a strategic and/or a financial investor who is capable to insure its management and development. For this purpose,…

EU recommends removing Tunisia and 7 others from tax haven blacklist (Financial Times)

European officials have recommended that eight countries, including Panama and Tunisia be moved from the EU’s tax haven blacklist to its grey list, after they promise to reform, Financial Times reports on Tuesday. The Europe Council’s group of tax experts – the so-called Code of Conduct group – recommended that EU Finance Ministers move Barbados, Grenada, South Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Panama, Tunisia and UAE off the list of “non-cooperative” tax jurisdictions at their regular meeting next Tuesday, according to a leaked memo, the Financial Times adds. Critics argued that blacklisting…

IMF Executive Board Completes First Review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement with Tunisia

The government’s reform program supported by the EFF aims at reducing the fiscal deficit to stabilize public debt below 70 percent of GDP by 2020 while raising investment and social spending. Monetary tightening and greater exchange rate flexibility will help contain inflation, improve competitiveness, and preserve international reserves. To achieve a growth-friendly and socially-conscious fiscal consolidation, it will be critical to implement the 2018 tax package and the new Large Taxpayers Unit, which will both increase tax fairness. On June 12, 2017, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund…

“TunisiaTourism.info” launched for promotion of Tunisia destination

« TunisiaTourism.info » portal  and the first digital TV channel  specialising in Tunisian tourism were launched Monday in Tunis, at the initiative of the publishing and communication company MCM (Media, Communication, Marketing) in partnership with the Tunisair carrier and the Ministry of Tourism as well as Tunisian tourism professionals. (http://www.tunisiatourism.info/en/home) This site which is a tourist guide of Tunisian regions includes information on Tunisian tourism as well as a complete directory of all hotels and accommodations to promote direct booking to hotels,  Guillemette Mansour partner with the company MCM, which achieved this project told reporter.…