REGIONAL PROFILE

Four Seasons Tunis

According to Colliers ’ Lund , leisure tourism is expected to recover gradually as hotels target new source markets and travel restrictions are lifted . “ When European holiday tourism to Tunisia dropped , hotels shifted focus to Asian and regional customers ,” he says , “ so new hotel development must appeal to a variety of source markets to ensure long-term success with reduced risk .” According to the Tunisian National Tourist Office , arrivals from China have escalated since 90-day visa-free travel launched in February 2017 , with 40,000 predicted for 2018 compared with 18,000 last year . Lund says the potential for increased Chinese tourism will largely be based on projects by Chinese firms in the country , as well as growth in economic activity between the two countries .

According to Hotel Partners Africa ’ s Harper , Tunisia has 21 proposed new branded hotels , comprising 4,279 further guest rooms , with 15 properties under construction . Trevor Ward , managing director , W Hospitality Group , says Accor , Radisson , and Minor are developing resorts and upper-midscale properties , and reports that Group du Louvre ’ s Golden Tulip African inventory will rise from 474 rooms in 2017 to 1,662 rooms in 2018 , of which 1,300 are due to open in Tunisia .

“ Values have plummeted since the Sousse attacks and are just starting to turn around from their lowest recorded value ,” Harper says . “ They stood at $ 149,900 / guest room in 2017 , which was a 3.6 % per annum drop in value over the last eight years .”

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts ’ Chief Development Officer Andrew Langdon sees development in 3- , 4- and 5-star hotels , with many older ones renovated and rebranded . The Plaza Sfax and Spa Hotel will become the fourth Mövenpickmanaged Tunisian property by year-end , following the opening of the Hotel du Lac Tunis in April . The brand plans to expand in North Africa by a third over the next few years and sees good opportunities in extended-stay serviced apartments .

With travel bans lifted in most areas , visitors will come back , particularly since Thomas Cook and TUI have resumed operations . Ward says tour operators had been reluctant to return due to insurance liability , but “ tourists have short memories .”

“ The challenge is to get hotels built . Lenders must work with investors for a long time ,” says Ward . “ Investors want stability and to know decision-making is coherent so they won ’ t suffer from policy changes .”

A harbinger of confidence came with the December 2017 opening of the Four Seasons Hotel Tunis . Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas plans a property in Gammarth , while Marriott confirms that a Ritz-Carlton Tunis is slated to open in 2023 .

34 hotelsmag . com September 2018