Tunisia’s summer tourism season saw a sharp drop in arrivals from Algeria and Libya – two traditionally key markets for the destination – leading to a significant decline in major performance indicators for August, according to official figures cited by *Destination Tunisie*.
At the height of the summer season, arrivals of Algerian visitors fell by 32.9% in August 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, while arrivals from Libya dropped by 16.3%.
This combined decline contributed to a 13.6% drop in overall arrivals for the period.
This trend did not affect all markets equally. European visitor numbers actually rose by 3.7%, whereas arrivals from the Middle East fell by 13.7% against a backdrop of regional geopolitical tensions.
The downturn was also reflected in overnight stays, which decreased by 10.4% – a drop of more than 500,000 nights compared to August 2025.
These figures highlight the high sensitivity of Tunisia’s tourism sector to developments in its neighbouring markets.
The drop in Algerian arrivals appears directly linked to new regulations governing access to the annual €750 tourism allowance.
Since these rules came into effect, Algerian travellers have been required to hold a bank card to access the allowance.
The measure aims to curb “fake” holiday trips and prevent the funds from being used for other purposes, such as speculation on the parallel currency market.
However, its implementation significantly dampened travel to Tunisia during the summer season.
According to ‘Destination Tunisie,’ the high level of Algerian arrivals observed in 2025 was reportedly driven in part by currency exchange practices that are now more strictly regulated.
The decline recorded in 2026 would therefore not be merely cyclical, but would also reveal the fragility of a portion of these flows.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/as/APA