Coronavirus crisis punctures Tunisia tourism rebound

Coronavirus crisis punctures Tunisia tourism rebound

TUNIS: As the coronavirus pandemic wipes out a recovery from militant attacks in 2015, Tunisia's vital tourism sector is trying to find ways to avoid going under.. The North African country has registered 45 deaths from the COVID-19 illness, and for several days this week saw no new infections, putting it among Mediterranean countries faring relatively well in the pandemic.. But the crisis has led to a shortfall in tourism revenues of six billion dinars (over $2 billion), the country's national tourism office has estimated, and some 400,000 jobs are at risk.. The sector accounts for around 14 percent of Tunisia's GDP, according to the tourism ministry.. Even before the pandemic struck, a series of crises had weakened Tunisia's tourism sector.. The security situation has greatly improved since then, and tourist numbers last year had returned to pre-2011 levels, with 9.5 million visitors.. Thomas Cook had suspended trips to Tunisia after the attacks, but had returned in force in the last two years.. The sector is searching for ways to survive, as the coronavirus crisis persists and as passenger flights from Europe, Tunisia's main market, are expected to remain grounded for much of the summer.. LIVE: Global war against coronavirus