A world of sand, pink bricks, dunes, stones, palm trees planted to infinity, from which hang generous clusters of dates considered among the most succulent in the country… and perhaps even in Africa.
Where have we landed? At the (recently renovated) Tozeur-Nefta airport, these two gateways to the great southern Tunisia, which, little by little, seek to surface in travel imaginations and to colonize them.
Not that these destinations have disappeared. Adored by the former Tunisian presidency, Tozeur and its neighbor have known moments of glory and, as early as the 1990s, have seen hotel signs rush in to set the scene for a new tourist destination.
It was a time when Tunisia already sought to diversify its offer.
Saturated on the coast and its beaches (especially appreciated by a French and European clientele), it aimed to develop saharan tourism as other destinations, notably its Maghreb neighbors, were doing.
Algeria was selling excursions into Tassili and Hoggar to trekking enthusiasts, while Morocco was discovering the magnetic draw of its southern reaches beyond Erfoud and Ouarzazate, along the Dra valleys and not far from the Merzouga dunes.
Even Libya began offering desert glamping stays…
The world would be simple if there were only the sky and the earth (A. Malraux)
Certainly, at the turn of the century, the Islamist threat was not yet what it has become. But, in April 2002, the Djerba synagogue attack, followed by the 2015 attacks on the Bardo Museum and Sousse, were violent and spectacular enough to leave a mark on minds and deter a portion of the destination’s enthusiasts.
In 2015, arrivals fell by about 25% according to ministry figures, reaching their lowest level.
That shows how difficult it has been for the country to rebound and regain the trust of vacationers. Notably French, deemed more cautious than average.
Medical tourism, thalassotherapy, overall well-being, events, sports… There was even talk of Tozeur hosting the second edition of the International Sahara and Oasis Tourism Fair – ISSOT – which was ultimately canceled even though it was meant to contribute to developing tourism in the southern regions by creating new circuits that included archaeological sites still little known!
Tourist arrivals in Tunisia from 2019 to 2025
– 2023: 8,134,000 foreign visitors and 1,236,000 Tunisians living abroad ;
– 2025: 9,921,000 foreign visitors and 1,405,000 Tunisians living abroad, for a total of 11,326,000 visitors, including 1,078,000 arrivals from France.
Between dunes and lakes, between oasis and mountains
Beyond carriage rides through the oases and palm groves under which it is pleasant to sip a traditional drink while one is guided through the workings of what represents the first local industry: the date, it is especially recommended to leave the capital to immerse oneself in the totally unexpected landscapes of the mountain oases – Chebika, Mides and Tamerza – which can be reached by bus or 4×4 and explored carefully in a maze of gravel, crevassed with gorges and canyons.
The salt lakes from which mirages rise, the gradient of colors tinting the landscape, the rocks and the multitude of desert roses drawn from the depths of the earth, the magic of silence… constitute the first stages of an exploration that can descend much further south toward Tataouine or to the east toward Matmata… and can be done on foot for the more courageous, with nights in bivouac and Saharan staging, as shaped by Western desert imagery.
Dunes, camels, sunsets, Bedouins… And, silence, purity, space, close contact with nature, a minimalist and primitive aesthetic. The desert today gathers all the values dear to a society exasperated by technological progress, economic chaos, and above all an unpredictable geopolitics.
In search of a simple world, humanity seeks its roots and attempts to reconnect with the authenticity of a lost universe where man walked in harmony with God.
Dream hotels and unlimited spas
So shall we go?
Today, besides the two weekly Transavia flights from Paris, one must fly to Djerba and reach Tozeur in 4 or 5 hours by road. One can also fly to Tunis and then take an internal flight with Tunisair.
After developing the Touriscopie journal for over 20 years, she remains at the forefront of current events, decoding the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, in the Futuroscopie section, she publishes prospecting and analytical articles several times a week.
Contact: 06 14 47 99 04
Email: [email protected]
