Tourism – Travel: Japanese Travel Agencies Set Their Sights on Tunisia and Its UNESCO-Listed Sites

TOKYO — Japanese travel agencies are interested in organising regular trips to Tunisia and promoting its tourist attractions, particularly sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Tunisian Embassy in Japan said on Thursday.

The announcement followed a working meeting between Yasushi KARATIKA, chairman of the board of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), and Ahmed Chafra, Tunisia’s ambassador to Japan.

Karatika confirmed the interest of Japanese travel agencies in adding regular Tunisia programmes to their offerings and promoting the country’s tourist sites. He cited, however, challenges including high airfares and declining purchasing power among Japanese consumers.

The two sides agreed to continue coordination and consultations on measures and cooperation programmes aimed at raising awareness of Tunisia as a tourist destination and promoting several Tunisian sites among Japanese travellers, the embassy said.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to present the main attractions and distinctive features of Tunisia’s tourism offering and to discuss ways of increasing the number of Japanese visitors to the country.

Tunisia is taking part in the 12th edition of Japan’s tourism trade fair, “2026 Tourism Expo Japan,” being held in Tokyo from September 24 to 27 under the theme “The Changing Nature of Travel.”

Chafra opened the Tunisian pavilion at the fair on Thursday morning in the presence of representatives of the Tunisian National Tourist Office, the National Office of Handicrafts, as well as tourism professionals and representatives of Tunisian travel agencies.

The Tunisian pavilion is focusing in particular on promoting sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the village of Sidi Bou Saïd, which attracts particular interest from Japanese tourists.

In coordination with the Tunisian National Tourist Office, the Tunisian delegation has also arranged for promotional brochures to be printed in Japanese. The material covers the featured heritage sites as well as different components of Tunisia’s tourism offering, including golf and thalassotherapy.

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