Risk & Crisis Management in Tourism Sector:
Recovery from Crisis
in the OIC Member Countries
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healthcare complexes.
 In 2001 The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) studied in detail 'upgrading
the condition of cultural, ecological and Saharan tourism resources', and itemized the
important segments of cultural, ecological and desert tourismwith evaluation of each in
terms the potential, target market, and infrastructure. Several projects have also been
put forward for development within the Tunisia 2020 plan by the private sector while
others could be developing jointly with public sector.
It is expected that the reforms under discussion will satisfy market requirements and be able to
offer competitive and sustainable tourism for the medium and long term. With the growing
international tourism industry, UNWTO’s long-term outlook expects tourist arrivals to Africa to
reach 134 million by 2030, and Tunisia will be in a better position to retain its share in the
Mediterranean tourism market (UNWTO, 2016).
4.3.5. Weaknesses and Threats to Tunisian Tourism
The main challenge that Tunisian tourism is facing today is the image of the country being
unsafe. Until this image is changed positively, the sector will continue to suffer weakness. The
issue is partly due to Tunisia's proximity to unstable areas in the wider region.
Tourism in Tunisia has relied for a long time on a single mass tourism offer. To effect a shift to
more diversified product offer away from the coastal resorts, Tunisia will need major
investments in infrastructure, which may take time under the current economic situation. A
further weakness is that the national airline is not developing its capacity nor making any
profits. If the sector finalises the "Open Sky” arrangement by end of the year, the national carrier
may become even less competitive.
4.3.6. Conclusion
Prior to the political developments in 2011, Tunisia attracted up to seven million tourists every
year. The political stability, low cost, proximity and good climate had attracted holidaymakers
for the previous fifty years. However, on the outbreak of violence in late 2010 which led to the
developments in 2011, the sector was hit hard, especially in terms of European source markets.
In the following three years the tourism authorities campaigned intensively to market the
country as a safe destination, which led to gradual recovery in 2012-14. The indications are that
the sector is quite resilient to the political instability that the country went through in 2011
hence the recovery did not take long. In 2015, however, the country was hit by terrorist attacks
targeting foreign tourists. The industry suffered considerably during 2016 as a result, but by
2017 - in spite of the continued imposition of foreign office travel advisory warnings in many
source markets - an increase in flights was reported and described as a ‘surprise boost’ for
Tunisian tourism (Calder, 2017), while the government authorities anticipated a 30% rise in
arrivals compared to 2016 (Reuters, 2017).