Bare beaches


Most Popular posts from other blogs...


Last updated 7 April 2011 to 23:08 am by Katy Watson Middle East business reporter, BBC News, Tunisia Djerba beach Djerba's beaches are deserted - tourists are concerned about violence in Libya two men sitting at the side of the road, a song and the other a cigarette smoking.

Dressed in traditional white robes and red hats, on their laps, baskets with grapes of Jasmin - are a popular purchase for visitors to Tunisia.

But it's a hard sell in the moment.

On 14 January, a peaceful revolution saw this land, but since then have spread protests throughout the region. And now is in neighbouring Libya escalating violence deter tourists.

"Catastrophic"

This means that business is hard for people in Sidi Bou said, about 20 km from the capital Tunis.

Sidi Bou SaidSidi Bou said is one of the most popular destinations in Tunisia

The village slope is usually a large draw tourists because of the charming, whitewashed houses and bright pink bougainvillea, which hangs over the village of doors and Windows.

"The cruise ships are no longer as a result of Libya, come," says Kraemer Entry'mondher Regichi.

"Our revolution has already happened, but the problems are not affected by Libya is now caused."

And Entry'mondher is concerned. He says business is by two-thirds at a normal level, and other shop owners are even less hopeful.

"The situation is really bad," adds Batrikh Mohamed Aziz, whom a business on the way from Entry'mondher. He says, he only see about 1% of the normal business.

Money maker

Tourism is essential to the economy of Tunisia. With a population of little more than 10 million people the industry offers around 400,000 jobs and is worth over $2 billion (€ 1 billion) for the economy.

The problem is still embittered in the South. The holiday island of Djerba is only 130 km from the border to Libya, and during the regular season began, more than half of the hotels always closed.

But it is not merely the absence of Western tourists, the tribute.

Regichi MondherShop owner Entry'mondher Regichi says that business is hard

The seven million tourists, according to Tunisia come every year about one and a-half million are Libyan, and many of them come to Djerba. This business has all but dried up, since it started the fighting across the border.

The Radisson Blu Hotel has almost 300 rooms. Usually, it is almost full at this time of year. Now but hardly 100 rooms are occupied, and also this number was given a boost by the presence of correspondent the border waiting to cross.

"We get usually a whole lot of Libyans couples come - perhaps for their honeymoon," says Manager Christian Antoine.

"But obviously there is no chance that." We have Easter in April. "Bookings are still very quiet."

'Under toleration'

Work with four out of five people on the island in the tourism Djerba's tourism authorities try to solve the problem.

"Djerba is a place that works thanks to tourism - directly from hotels or travel agencies or of the trade you see everywhere, such as handicrafts, pottery and ceramics," says Mohamed Essayem, Djerba's regional for Ministry of tourism of Tunisia Director.

Tunisian seaCruise ships have be stopped Tunisia due to the riots

"A pause is located at the moment and we are in the process of working on a solution with that island as well as possible try to reopen, although he easily reduced to one works, the hotels work."

The hope is that the Government support and good marketing can the industry again in motion.

Again in Sidi Bou said are tourists who have made it Tunisia optimistic about their experience.

"A lot of people told me, ' Oh not walk you will see Tunisia, a lot of people from the army with guns and you can leave the hotel" a tourist from Belgium says.

"But here no problem there." The Tunisians are glad to see you, they are happy there are tourists. "

An another visitor from the UK, said: "We wanted to not because of the problems come".

"But everything began to calm down, so that the tour operator are not stop our sent us tickets and we had come under toleration." We were not looking forward to it but we were very surprised, [pleasurable]. "


Bookmark and Share

0 comments: