Tunisia’s tourism sector has recorded TND 5.3 billion in revenues through the end of July 2026, a 5.2 percent increase on the same period in 2025, according to figures published by the Ministry of Tourism and Crafts. The data mark the sector’s strongest mid-year result since the record year of 2019 and confirm that the structural recovery that began in 2022 has continued into 2026 despite cost pressures on European holiday budgets.
UK Displaces France as Top Arrivals Market
The most notable shift in the 2026 data is the ranking of source markets. The United Kingdom has moved ahead of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain to become Tunisia’s single largest sender of international arrivals — a position France held for much of the post-independence tourism era. British charter operators and low-cost carriers, including Jet2, TUI Airways, and easyJet, have sharply increased their Tunisia allocations over the past two seasons, taking advantage of competitive hotel pricing and the country’s short flying time from UK regional airports.
The UK shift reflects broader trends in European source-market behaviour, with British travellers increasingly choosing Mediterranean and North African destinations as alternatives to the more expensive Turkish or Egyptian Riviera products that dominated their choices five years ago.
Visitor Numbers and Segment Performance
A total of 5.828 million international visitors arrived in Tunisia through the end of July 2026, up 2.6 percent on the equivalent 2025 period. The modest growth rate in visitor numbers relative to the stronger revenue growth suggests that average spend per tourist has increased — a pattern the ministry attributes partly to the growth of higher-spend independent travellers booking direct accommodation rather than packaged holidays.
European arrivals overall grew 3 percent, with the Algerian and Libyan overland visitor segments also posting positive results. Domestic tourism, which expanded significantly during the post-pandemic period, has stabilised at a structurally higher level than pre-2020 baselines.
Looking Ahead to August and Beyond
August traditionally represents Tunisia’s peak arrivals month, with Djerba, Hammamet, Sousse, and Monastir operating at or near full beach resort capacity. The ministry has indicated that it expects full-year 2026 revenues to surpass TND 8 billion for the first time.
For an overview of what Tunisia’s regions offer, see our destinations guide. Practical information on visas, transport, and currency is covered in our travel information section. For ideas on how to fill your time beyond the beach, our things to do section spans everything from Roman ruins at Dougga and El Jem to Saharan camel treks and traditional hammam visits.