Tunisia plans to attract 10,000 Iranian tourists in 2016 thanks to a three-year cooperation program signed Friday in Tunis between the Tunisian and Iranian governments at the end of the 5th session of the Tunisian-Iranian Joint Committee.
The signed cooperation program includes 11 articles on the realization of investment projects, improvement of tourist flow, assistance of travel agencies in the development of joint tourist programs, exchange of expertise and participation in events and fairs standing in each country.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Tourism and Handicraft Elloumi Selma Rekik and Iranian Vice President Masoud Soltanifar.
Tunisia has attracted about 1,500 Iranian tourists in 2015 against 5,000, Ms. Rekik said adding that the program provides for the establishment of a direct air route between the two countries, in addition to strengthening cooperation in the field of crafts.
She emphasized Tunisia’s keenness to encourage joint tourism investment and consolidate cooperation in the fields of tourism and cultural tourism development.
For his part, Soltanifar, who is also Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization chief, said Iran wants to raise bilateral cooperation to higher levels, underlining its keenness to work to resolve the issue of visas established between the two countries.
He added that his country offers training for Tunisian craftsmen in the field of manufacturing Persian rugs in order to strengthen cooperation in the field of crafts.
Heads of the Tunisian federations of hotels (FTH) and travel agencies (FTAV), present at the signing ceremony, expressed their support for the agreement, noting the need to implement it to boost tourism in Tunisia.
