Risk & Crisis Management in Tourism Sector:
Recovery from Crisis
in the OIC Member Countries
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Estimated arrivals for 2016 are 5,724,021, representing an increase of 6.8% over the previous
year, which a positive sign of recovery. WTTC (2017) statistics show that the total contribution
of Tunisia’s Travel & Tourism sector to GDP in 2016 was 13.6%, while its total contribution to
direct and indirect employment was 12.6%, with 430,000 jobs. The authorities expect to see
further recovery in 2017, with a forecast of 6.5 million international tourists.
4.3.4. Critical Success Factors in Resilience of Tunisian Tourism
There are several aspects of the Tunisian tourism system which give it strength and resilience.
The principal ones are:
 Public support for the government in its fight against terrorism, which was expressed
by thousands of people who came out in big demonstrations denouncing terrorism.
 International support for Tunisia in its war against terrorism. After the Bardo Museum
attack in March 2015, a big demonstration took place in Tunis with thousands of people
opposing terrorism, with the participation of international leaders in showing political
and moral support for the Tunisian people. Granting the Nobel Peace Prize to a group of
Tunisian leaders was another demonstration of international support for the country.
 Support from neighbouring countries, especially from the Algerians who have
supported the tourism sector in Tunisia by coming in thousands to take their vacations
in Tunisia instead of other destinations that they customarily visit.
 Strong commitment and leadership by the government to address structural and
institutional challenges within the sector by introducing a development plan with
important reforms such as accessibility, product innovation and diversification, with
regional specialisms, quality and training; promotion and sector restructuring and
modernization (Oxford Business Group Studies, 2017).
 As part of this effort, the Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft held several regional
stakeholder debates on tourism during 2017, in order to agree an approach on how to
build a shared strategy for development. These debates had six themes which were: (a)
access to destinations; (b) communications and promotion; (c) sustainable tourism; (d)
quality of tourism products; (e) innovation and diversity of products and (f)
development and qualification of tourism establishments. Six regional workshops took
place within the country while the final one took place in Paris to include all the overseas
stakeholders. It was intended for the debates to feed into an effective plan of action for
developing tourism in Tunisia with the objectives of competitiveness, profitability and
sustainability (Boussetta, pers. comm., 2017).
 Full development of the new products will need time, financial and well-trained human
resources, but the sector is not starting from scratch. Some international brands such as
Marriott Hilton, Movenpick, Golden Tulip, Sheraton and other high-end establishments
are already operating in Tunisia which could expand in other areas of the country and
participate in the development of business tourism and MICE tourism. Some new
hospitality infrastructure has also been established in recent years with small-scale
accommodation such as guest-houses, boutique hotels and rural lodges.
 In 2009, Tunisia already had 45 Thalassotherapy centres, with some newhealth projects
scheduled for development in the Tunisia 2020 plan, including development of