Tunisia tourism eyes vast potential in Chinese market, says official

TUNIS -- Tunisia's tourism industry sees vast potential in the Chinese market and has high hopes for future growth, a Tunisian tourism official has said.

Speaking of ITB China 2026, a travel trade fair held in Shanghai focusing on the Chinese travel market, Anouar Chetoui, chief representative of the Tunisian National Tourist Office in China, said that the event provided a valuable platform for Tunisia to deepen tourism sector cooperation with China and unlock new avenues for partnerships.

Noting that the office will step up efforts to attract Chinese visitors and promote the country's tourism attractions, Chetoui emphasized that Tunisia's visa exemption policy for Chinese tourists has become a key driver of growth, significantly facilitating travel and contributing to a steady increase in visitor arrivals.

Tunisia received about 28,000 Chinese visitors in 2025, up 19.3 percent from a year earlier, and the upward trend has continued into 2026, official data showed.

To sustain the momentum, Tunisia has launched a range of promotional initiatives, notably by inviting Chinese media outlets and social media influencers, organizing business trips for Chinese travel agencies, and holding themed events with tour operators and local partners, Chetoui told Xinhua.

Interest in China is also growing among Tunisian travelers, he said, noting that group tours are becoming more common and that Tunisian travel agencies are increasingly adding China to their travel offerings.