Supporting the Diversification of Tunisian Tourism

The second newsletter for 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙟𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙖 — the European Union (EU)-financed programme supporting the diversification of Tunisian tourism, handicrafts and cultural heritage — is now out, covering October 2025 to April 2026.

View the newsletter here.

An exceptional semester, marked by international recognition, iconic restoration projects, major festivals and initiatives to treasure artisan heritage:

• Dahar Geopark listed by UNESCO
• Restoration of the Hammam-Lif Casino
• Major festivals and craft fairs: El Jem, ARTICREA, Lecce, Tunis
• Opening of the Kasserine Design Hub
• Showcasing Tunisian olive oil through design
• Portraits of women driving heritage forward

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
GOPA Worldwide Consultants provides inter-institutional coordination, steering and monitoring of the whole EU programme. Further, GOPA supports our partners with complementary technical assistance related to legislative, regulatory and administrative reforms and sustainable tourism development (Pillar 1) and inclusive development of the tourism sector at the regional level (Pillar 2). Finally, GOPA leads the communication and visibility activities.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
The tourism sector is a central pillar of the Tunisian economy but has suffered for many years from a lack of diversification and efficiency that has only been exacerbated by the country's security crisis (2015) and the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Union (EU) has launched the programme "Tounes Wijhetouna" (Tunisia: our destination) to support the diversification of the Tunisian tourism offer by creating synergies between the tourism, handicraft and cultural heritage sector

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙊𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚:
To contribute to the sustainable and inclusive economic development of Tunisia.

𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙊𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨:
Contribute to the adaptation of the administrative and regulatory environment and support mechanisms to the requirements of tourism diversification.
Results to be achieved:

1. Provide support to the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Investment (MDI-CI), other line ministries and programme operators for interinstitutional co-ordination of administrative and regulatory reforms in accordance with international standards (decent work) of sustainable tourism development in Tunisia.

2. The actions of institutional support and promotion of the sustainable tour-ism sector implemented by the project contribute to regional development and to the economic and social inclusion of men, women and young people of both sexes and of people living with disabilities.