One year after Sousse attack, Tunisia’s tourism industry remembers victims while remaining hopeful
Tunisia’s tourism sector, bolstered by increased security, continues to push on following the sharp decline it experienced in the wake of last year’s Sousse attack.
June 26 marked the one-year anniversary of the Sousse attack, a shooting spree by a lone gunman that claimed the lives of 38 tourists, 30 of whom were British. As soon as the attack ended, the British government announced the immediate evacuation of all British citizens in Tunisia and placed a full travel advisory on the country. This advisory has had a devastating effect on Tunisia’s tourism industry, as British tourism to Tunisia dropped 90% in the first part of 2016 compared with the same period last year.
Since the attack, Tunisia’s security sector has vastly improved its protection of touristic areas. Although memories of last summer’s horrific attack are still fresh, Tunisia’s tourism industry, bolstered by increased security, continues to push on, remaining optimistic that large numbers of tourists will return.
Imed Chatti was working as the vice director of the sports center at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel when a rapid succession of shots rang out. “Some tourists ran into the pool area, a few ran into my office. I ran out through a side entrance with some of the other ones,” he told Al-Monitor.
He pointed to a beach chair near the pool and said, “Two died here.” Looking toward another beach chair, his voice tightened. “A British man died here,” he said. “He was my friend.” Chatti was lucky to have gone home that night to his two sons and pregnant wife, yet he remains traumatized. “I’m still scared. I saw my good friend die. Now when I hear loud noises, I think it’s another attack,” he said.
