Holidaying In Tunisia: Is It Safe?

Last updated on 23rd May 2018

Following on from pieces regarding holidaying in Egypt and Cyprus, we’re back with the latest advice for Tunisia travel. Traditionally a popular tourist hotspot, trips to the north African country were banned for a short period until recently, but sun seekers are on their way back with a number of bargain breaks available.

Here’s everything you need to know…

What is the latest advice for Tunisia travel?

The traditional tourist regions are currently deemed generally safe to visit, though the government always advises holidaymakers to check their latest advice before travelling. Advised restrictions do not impact popular areas such as Sousse, Tunis or Hammamet and relates solely to the parts of the country that border Libya and Algeria.

Tunisia is an Islamic country and local laws reflect this. Tourists should always respect traditions, customs and religions during their visit to ensure their actions don’t offend, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan or when near religious areas.

How safe is it to visit and where is it geographically?

Situated right at the summit of Africa, Tunisia is neighboured by both Libya and Algeria, whilst Malta is located around 500km east and Italy another 150km or so further north.

The vast majority of terrorist activity in the country has taken place far away from the tourist areas, though you should always stay vigilant and follow the advice of local security officials, particularly in and around religious sites. It is regularly reported by Tunisian authorities that they have disrupted and/or thwarted planned attacks and improved security in tourist resorts as well as their ability to respond quickly to incidents.

For the purposes of context, the areas of Tunisia which aren’t deemed safe to visit are at least 250km (most nearer to 500km) away from the traditional holiday resorts, which is about the same distance between London and Paris.

When was the travel ban lifted?

Travel to Tunisia was restricted from June 2015 after the FCO advised against all but essential travel until around August last year, with Thomas Cook amongst the first tour operators to add the country back to their list of offerings.

Currently, agents including Super Escapes, Purple Travel, JLM Travel and Travel Republic advertise holidays to Tunisia on icelolly.com and tourism to the region is growing increasingly popular again.

Which areas should and shouldn’t I go to?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

The Chaambi Mountains National Park and the designated military operations zones of Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma and Mount Mghila
The militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
Within 20km of the rest of the Libya border area north of Dhehiba
The town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area

The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:

Areas south of, and including, the towns of Nefta, Douz, Médenine, Zarzis
Within 30km of the border with Algeria south of, and including, the town of Jendouba (this area includes the archaeological sites of Bulla Regia and Chemtou)
The governorate of Kasserine, including the town of Sbeitla

Areas of the country currently popular with tourists and available to travel to through deals on icelolly.com:

Hammamet
Mahdia
Monastir
Sousse
Tunis

Man Looking At Watch

Tunisia travel advice image taken from GOV.UK

Could you recommend any similar destinations for the same type of holiday?

As mentioned, Italy and Malta are located just slightly further north and east of Tunisia respectively and experience similar weather as well as being accessible within the same sort of flight time. Other African countries such as Morocco and Egypt also provide almost identical climates and surroundings, whilst the nearby Greek islands offer a more chilled alternative.

I still have unanswered questions regarding Tunisia holidays. What should I do?

If you’ve booked a trip to Tunisia and this article hasn’t answered any of your queries or concerns, drop a comment below and we’ll do our best to advise, or contact the tour operator your holiday is booked with.

Remember to keep an eye out for the government’s latest travel guidance for up to date holiday information.

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Would you go on holiday to Tunisia?

The information in this blog post has been taken from the government’s latest travel advice and is correct as of 23rd May 2018.

Tunisia Holiday Advice: Here Are The Latest Developments

Published on 24th August 2017