The Tunisian Ministry of Health announced on Friday that it will simplify Covid-19 protocols, including night curfews, quarantine for visitors and movement between cities to bring the tourists back.

Reuters, Tunis

UPDATED MARCH 06, 2021 07:35 AM

Tunisia said on Friday it hoped to save its economically important summer tourism season, as it had announced Relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions including quarantine measures, curfew and travel ban between regions.

The Tunisian economy contracted by 8.8% last year. This was the largest decline in the country’s history due to the impact of the crisis on key sectors such as tourism, aviation and exports.

“With these new measures, the vision for tour operators has become clearer … I think the season can start in May and June as reservations start now,” Tourism Minister Mohamed Ammar told reporters.

He added that Tunisia could save the tourist season with the start of a major vaccination campaign expected next week.

The Ministry of Health said Friday it would ease a night curfew, lift quarantine for visitors and end a ban on movement between cities from March 8.

Tunisia’s tourism revenue fell 65% in 2020 compared to 2019 to around USD 746 million.

Travel restrictions and the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus resulted in most hotels in Tunisia being closed and tens of thousands of workers in the tourism sector losing their jobs.

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This story was published by a wire agency feed with no changes to the text. Only the heading was changed.

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