The New York Times recently published a list of the 53 places to go in 2008, and Tunisia ranks 3rd in their list, directly after Laos and Lisbon.
Here’s what they have to say:
Tunisia is undergoing a Morocco-like luxury makeover. A new wave of stylish boutique hotels, often in historic town houses, has cropped up alongside this North African country’s white-sand beaches and age-old medinas, drawing increasing numbers of well-heeled travelers. The Villa Didon (www.villadidon.com) in Carthage, for one, has a restaurant originally run by Alain Ducasse. Indeed, TripAdvisor ranks Jerba, a resort island off Tunisia’s southern coast, as the No. 1 emerging spot in 2008.
Four other Arab countries were featured on the list: Libya, Egypt, Kuwait and Algeria.
It’s really cool to see that Tunisia is getting more interest and becoming a better known tourist destination outside of Europe as well, where most of our tourists usually come from.
Check out the full NY Times article here: The 53 Places to Go in 2008
Well, I’m glad that’s one place I can score off the list 🙂 And it’s very interesting that they mentioned Kuwait, which is not too open as a tourist destination although it can be quite interesting.
Hey, good to see you on Facebook and Twitter!
Yeah, a lot of people I know who have visited or lived in Kuwait tell me it’s a very nice place to visit. I hope I get to go there one day.
Great to see you too on facebook, twitter, linkedin and here 😉
Hi Marwen, I am currently in Tunis since a few days – my first visit here and I really like the place. It’s extremely different from any of the other middle eastern countries. Will ask your insight on a few things later on, for the moment, I am here today and on Sunday morning and would like some advice on what to do! I’m here on a business visit and just have today and tomorrow morning to roam around so would appreciate some suggestions.
Well my suggestions for near places you could visit are:
– Sidi Bou Said (sidi bou s3eed). You can go for a nice walk in this Tunisian town that hangs on to its old Tunisian style, and have a cup of tee with pine nuts in either one of 2 cafes; Sidi Chabaane (Cafe des delices) for a lovely view of the sea and mountain and Tunisia, or Al Qahwa Al 3alya (Cafe des Nattes). You can also go to the marina/port of Sidi Bou Said if you’re interested.
– Downtown Tunis: The old medina & the souks (best place to buy souvenirs) & Habib Bourguiba Avenue.
– If you’re into archeology you can also pay a visit to Carthage and check out some of the Roman ruins there.
– If you want to do some shopping you can either go to Carrefour or Geant.
These are the places that came to mind right away. Have fun 🙂
I think that since they were ranking Djerba, they should have mentioned a Djerban restaurant in the piece (Essoufra for example).
I have noticed that in the past few years Tunisia has been gaining in popularity. The whole country is rich with history and beauty and offers so much. I also think that once the Mediterranean Gate City project is completed it will draw in more tourists because it will have a lot to offer and sow Tunis as being very modernized.
This is good but I think Tunisia is immersed in tourism and not much else. Censorship is rampant..yet the middle-class is relatively well-heeled and well-informed. It is really quite baffling to me as Tunisia has always been one of the most modern Arabic countries and yet other Arab countries are making advances whereas we have stalled, politically. What’s with the apathy?