Speaking to MPs at a debate with the FTVA, the Tunisian
Federation of Hotels (FTH) and the Tunisian Federation of Tourist Restaurants
(FTRT), he emphasized the role of travel agents who offer tourists an average
of two or three tourist excursions within the country by stay an average cost
of 310 euros.
"For example, an excursion to the governorate of
Kairouan or El Jem (governorate of Mahdia) costs about 150 euros per tourist
and the cost of an excursion to the south-west is about 160 to 170 euros
including transport, outings in 4x4 cars, excursions on camelback, the purchase
of handicrafts and catering, "he argued.
The official regretted the fact that Tunisian citizens are
deprived of services provided to tourists, which leads nearly 1.3 million
Tunisians to travel annually outside the country.
He said in this regard that only 25 million dinars are
granted by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) to travel agencies as a premium
for services rendered to Tunisians abroad, in addition to a premium of 50
million dinars under the Umra trips.
FTAV president Jaber Ben Attouch told MPS there are more
than 4000 tourist service offices operating in the parallel market. "This
figure is frightening and the only losers are the organised sector and the
state, "he said.
"3200 Tunisians are still waiting for the repayment of
their money advanced by travel agencies to airlines for Umrah trips that were
canceled in February 2020, he further indicated, adding a commission has been
established for this purpose.
Ben Attouch recommended, in this regard, the revision of
laws and legislation governing travel agencies, which date from 1973.
He called to recognise the role of these agencies as
companies exporting services and promoting the destination Tunisia.