Pandemic Drives Down Tunisia’s Tourism Revenue by 65%

 Tourists walk, one of them wearing a protective face mask, in the Old City of Tunis, Tunisia March 4, 2020. Reuters/Zoubeir Souissi
Tourists walk, one of them wearing a protective face mask, in the Old City of Tunis, Tunisia March 4, 2020. Reuters/Zoubeir Souissi
TT
20

Pandemic Drives Down Tunisia’s Tourism Revenue by 65%

 Tourists walk, one of them wearing a protective face mask, in the Old City of Tunis, Tunisia March 4, 2020. Reuters/Zoubeir Souissi
Tourists walk, one of them wearing a protective face mask, in the Old City of Tunis, Tunisia March 4, 2020. Reuters/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisia’s tourism revenue plunged by 65% in 2020 compared to 2019, to around $746 million, official figures showed on Thursday, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the country’s economy.

In 2020, the number of visitors fell by 78%, as western tourists deserted Tunisia’s hotels and resorts, a government official told Reuters.

Tunisia had received a record 9.5 million visitors in 2019.

The contraction of Tunisia’s economy is expected to be at least 7% in 2020 as a result of the loss of revenue from tourism, which accounts for about 8% of GDP and is a major source of foreign currency.

Central bank data showed that tourism revenues fell to 2 billion Tunisian dinars ($746 million), compared to 5.6 billion dinars the previous year.

Travel restrictions and the spread of the novel coronavirus around the world led most hotels in Tunisia to close and tens of thousands in the tourism sector lost their jobs, which prompted the government to announce facilities in loans to hotel owners.

In December, the World Bank expected a 9.2 percent contraction in 2020 and growth to temporarily accelerate to 5.8 percent in 2021 as the pandemic’s effects begin to abate.

However, “pre-existing structural weaknesses are expected to drag the Tunisian economy into a more subdued growth trajectory of around two percent by 2022,” according to the WB report, which further indicated the possibility of an increase in poverty and unemployment rates in 2021.

Travel restrictions and the spread of the novel coronavirus around the world led most hotels in Tunisia to close and tens of thousands in the tourism sector lost their jobs.

Meanwhile, official data showed on Wednesday that Tunisia’s inflation rate stabilized at 4.9 percent in December, unchanged from November.

Inflation had eased to 4.9 percent in November from 5.4 percent in October.

In its report, the WB provided several recommendations to save the Tunisian economy, including the restructuring of public finances by containing the size of the wage bill, shifting social assistance from subsidies to more targeted transfers and addressing fiscal risks from state-owned enterprises.



Indonesia Seeks Saudi Investment in Food Security, Technology

A vendor (L) assists a customer at a roadside clothing stall in Jakarta on June 30, 2025. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP)
A vendor (L) assists a customer at a roadside clothing stall in Jakarta on June 30, 2025. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP)
TT
20

Indonesia Seeks Saudi Investment in Food Security, Technology

A vendor (L) assists a customer at a roadside clothing stall in Jakarta on June 30, 2025. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP)
A vendor (L) assists a customer at a roadside clothing stall in Jakarta on June 30, 2025. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP)

As Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto begins an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, a senior Indonesian official confirmed that the trip reflects Jakarta’s ambition to deepen both economic and political ties with Riyadh.

Dr. Muhammad Hidayat Nur, Deputy Speaker of Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly, told Asharq Al-Awsat that this presidential visit underscores the depth of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

Nur said the visit is expected to explore ways to strengthen and broaden comprehensive economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on enhancing food security.

He noted that Indonesia is putting forward proposals to attract Saudi investments aimed at increasing domestic production of key agricultural commodities, including wheat, corn, and rice. He also highlighted the rising pace of tourism exchanges between the two countries.

He stressed that Indonesia remains open to new industries and emerging technologies, alongside efforts to ensure sustainable food supplies, as Jakarta actively seeks to draw Saudi investors.

According to Nur, Subianto will put forward a clear vision of expanding collaboration, viewing Saudi Arabia as a leading partner in supplying essential food products.

Nur explained that the new government’s plans focus on strengthening security conditions that protect foreign investments and facilitate their smooth, safe flow into the country. “At the same time, we are committed to removing obstacles that have hindered investment in Indonesia, particularly in agriculture.”

He emphasized that Indonesia welcomes Saudi investment across various sectors. Subianto is visiting the Kingdom carrying a package of proposals aimed at advancing bilateral relations and increasing preferred Saudi investments, especially in agriculture, food production, mining, and industrial projects, he said.

Nur also underlined Jakarta’s intention to leverage both nations’ membership in the G20 to deepen cooperation in economic, technological, and environmental fields. It is essential to strengthen Saudi-Indonesian collaboration within the G7 and G20 frameworks, he said, to address the imbalance and inequity in the global distribution of wealth and resources. This is key to creating more balanced development and fostering sustainable growth worldwide.

He concluded that Saudi-Indonesian relations are currently at their strongest and will continue to grow. There are no obstacles impeding progress, he said.

In fact, both countries are core partners who work side by side with shared visions in international organizations, especially the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. They stand together, particularly on the Palestinian issue.