Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A trip to Tunis to save democracy

Not that bombers Djema el Fna succeed in their efforts to undermine the arrival of tourists in Morocco. So far in these first months of 2011 Morocco was the very nation that has best withstood the drop in tourists in the Arab and North African countries in general. And after the attack there was no escape for tourists, a sign that maybe it will be interpreted for what it is: a very serious incident but is not able to repeat frequently.

Instead, Tunisia and Egypt, the only ones who managed to oust the tyrants and to start a new story, are the countries most affected by fear. Not only that - it was understandable - in the period of major riots, the violent resistance of power, but also later, when life is back to normal.

The theme of the importance of tourism is economic, psychological and ultimately decisive policy in these countries. In Tunisia, the official figures say that tourism has a weight of 9% gross domestic product. But even more weight on employment, taking into account that it is partly related to tourism that 55% of total employment is defined as "services".

Only in the early months of this year's arrivals of non-residents in Tunisia by more than half (57% less) and you must take into account that in the remaining 43% are the comings and goings of the immigrants in Europe. The flow of European tourists fell to a minimum, a concern for excessive and irrational to run into problems of public order or safety.

(The tragic paradox of the person who thought that Morocco was rather safe. On the other hand, the Moroccan episode is completely isolated, like the eruption of a small volcano.) Tunisian The Interim Government is trying to run for cover, and think of a promotion campaign in Europe. There is a direct proportion between the increase in cyclical unemployment in Tunisia and the crisis of tourism.

You can say - as one commentator wrote on the Tunisian La Presse - that if the Italians really want fewer landings in Lampedusa should go back to vacation and visit in Tunisia. Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has appealed to its citizens to resume to a holiday in Tunisia. The theme is also linked with the preparation of the first free elections to be held July 24.

There was Saturday, April 23 at Hammamet an unprecedented demonstration of the remarkable 4000 people, organized by the federation of hotels and travel agencies in the area, with the slogan "Touche pas a mon tourisme, tourism defend . In addition to the request for interim protection of the public sector was clearly the intention to get your hands ahead of some settings that might emerge from the Islamists.

"We want a democratic and tolerant modern Tunisia," the promoters said. And they thought the event that there was in Tunis for a few hundred Islamists against rock concerts, or to certain articles and speeches - though minority - the opportunity to influence tourism to an audience abstemious and sober as the Middle East.

Tunisia watching with bated breath the reservations, so far very little in June and July along the coast. Before analyzing more complex programs of cooperation - for which France has called on Tunisia, even at the next G8 - a simple and practical to encourage new first Arab democracy, an outpost of the "wall" would be to buy a ticket to Tunis.

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