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Tunisair

Geographical and Political Location

Geographical

Tunisia covers an area of 63,378 square miles (162,155km2) and has about 800 miles (1300km) of coastline on the Mediterranean stretching along the north and east of the country. There are three large regions in the country: the grain-growing plains in the northwest; the Sahel, olive tree area on the east coast; and the Sahara region in the south.

Political

The republic of Tunisia is headed by a president who is elected every five years . Elections for the Chamber of Deputies and municipal councils are also held every five years. Other governing and consultative bodies include the Administrative Court and the Court of Accounts; the Social and Economic Council; the Constitutional Council; and the Higher Islamic Council. There are seven political parties, spanning the ideological spectrum. Tunisia is a member of various international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the league of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity, the Islamic Conference Organization, and the Arab Maghreb Union.

General Information

Population: Government: Head of State: Head of Government: Capital:
Area: 162,155km2
10 million (2006 estimate)
Republic
President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi
Tunis

Language: Arabic is the official language of Tunisia. French are spoken in the country.

Social Conventions:

Arabic in culture and tradition, Tunisia is nevertheless one of the more liberal and tolerant Muslim countries. Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. Hospitality is very important and a small gift in appreciation of hospitality or as a token of friendship is always appreciated. Dress can be informal but should respect the conventions of Islam when visiting religious monuments, i.e. shoulders and knees must be covered. Outside tourist resorts, scanty beachwear should not be worn.

Electricity: 230 volts, 50 Hrz

Banking Hours:

Credit cards and traveler’s checks are accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels, and bank hours are typically weekdays until 11am, so make sure you have your currency before noon if you need it, or visit an exchange kiosk.

Nightlife:

In Tunisia, the theatre season lasts from October to June when local and foreign (especially French) companies put on productions and concerts. International groups appear at the Tunis Theatre and in the towns of Hammamet and Sousse. There are numerous cinemas in the larger cities. There are nightclubs in the major tourist resorts and at most beach hotels, as well as in the big city hotels. Belly dancing is a common cabaret feature and lively local bands often play traditional music. Casinos are also available in Tunis, Yasmine, Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba.

Shopping:

Shopping in Tunisia is definitely an art: Silver Jewelry, Pottery and Ceramics, Brass and Copper, Leatherwork, Carpets, Wall Hangings, Fun Stuff, Country market days are considered a perfect occasion to sell your prize goat.... plastic bottles, Berber jewelry, wooden kitchen utensils, souvenirs, just about anything that can be traded

Food:

Tunisian meals include staples like couscous, fish, lamb, and breads, like baguette or tabouna, traditional unleavened bread. Dishes are flavorful, including brik, pastry-wrapped eggs, meat and spices folded and fried, mloukhia, beef stew made with corète to thicken it, and baklava, a Turkish dessert of thin pastry layered with crushed almonds and other nut pastes.

Top Things to See During Your Stay in Tunisia

The perched village of Sidi Bou Said offers unique scenery of domes, arched doors and balconies in blue and white set against a sparkling sea.

Punic and Roman archaeological sites can be visited in Carthage and other historical areas around the country. They include a second century Roman temple in Dougga, the Phoenician port of Utica, Sbeitla’s Roman temples and arches, Bulla Regia’s Roman villas and El Jem’s Coliseum, which is second only to Rome’s.

Masterpieces of Arab-Islamic architecture attract the attention of visitors. Among them are the Great Mosque of Kairouan, and the Great Mosque of Zitouna at the center of the old city (the Medina) of Tunis.

The vast Tunisian south with its lush oases and sweeping Saharan landscapes is increasingly becoming a favored shooting location for international film productions. Recently shot films include Star Wars and the English Patient. The island of Jerba is the site of the Ghriba, one of the world’s oldest Jewish shrines.

Overview on Tunisian Economy:

Due to its limited natural resources, Tunisia has focused on strengthening its human potential. The bulk of the national budget has been allocated to education, healthcare, housing and social services. The private sector is encouraged to play a leading role in economic growth and, as a result, Tunisians have created a modern, diversified market-oriented economy based on an efficient agricultural sector, a growing manufacturing sector, and a thriving tourism industry. Tunisia’s GNP and social indicators have risen steadily since independence.

The principal Tunisian exports are crude oil, minerals, manufactured goods, and agricultural products, including its internationally renowned olive oil. Tourism is also a significant source of revenue and foreign exchange. Tunisia’s primary trading partners are France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, and the Maghreb countries.

Tunisia’s thriving economy creates an attractive atmosphere for investors from the European Community, Japan and the United States. More than 1,800 foreign firms have direct investments in or joint ventures with Tunisian companies. Many of these firms were attracted by Tunisia’s proximity and preferential trading relations with the European Community and the Arab Maghreb Union, as well as by the Investment Code which offers tax and customs concessions to foreign investors, and facilitates project approval.

Sources:

  • World Travel guide
  • Wikipedia

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