Day: March 24, 2022

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First cruise ship in three years with over 700 passengers docks in Tunisia

LA GOULETTE (Tunisia), — A cruise ship docked in a Tunisian port on Wednesday for the first time since 2019, carrying over 700 passengers and rare good news for tourism operators battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Spirit of Discovery, run by UK operator Saga, landed at La Goulette port on the edge of Tunis where it was welcomed by camels and a band playing traditional Tunisian music.

“We were not trading for about 18 months… but we’ve been back in business since last July and this is our first call here to northern Africa,” said Captain Kim Tanner.

British tourist John Hilton, 75, said he was “absolutely delighted” to be in Tunisia.

“We’re certainly pleased to get out and see some of the world and get to some of the places that we haven’t seen,” he said.

The ship was carrying 724 passengers, mostly British but also German, Italian, and Spanish, according to Tourism Minister Moez Belhassen.

He said the cruise liner was the first of at least 40 expected to dock in Tunis this year.

“This is very important for many sectors… especially given the spending power of tourists,” he said.

After two disastrous seasons, Tunisian authorities are hoping to bring visitor numbers and spending back to 60 percent of 2019 levels, the best season since the North African country’s 2011 revolution.

In normal years, tourism makes up around 14 percent of Gross Domestic Product and provides a living for two million Tunisians, around a sixth of the population.

But the sector has suffered several crises since the 2011 revolt, which inspired revolutions across the Arab world.

In 2015, Daesh group-linked militants waged a string of deadly attacks at key tourist hotspots.

The sector had started to recover when the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns sent visitor numbers and revenues tumbling by some 80 percent.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Covid-18: Russia lifts travel ban on Kenya

NAIROBI, — The Russian government announced that it has lifted a ban previously imposed on travel from Nairobi to Moscow.

After close two years of embargo, the Russian Embassy in Nairobi disclosed that Kenyans are finally free to enter Russian soil in light of the improving Covid-19 situation. Just like the majority of countries, the United Russia Party-led administration had stopped the entry of foreigners due to the outbreak of the deadly virus.

“Dear Kenyans! According to the Decree ?440-R of the Russian Government, previously imposed restrictions (including those related to Kenyan students studying in Russia on entry to Russia), have been removed,” the embassy announced in a statement.

According to the embassy, Kenyans are at liberty to apply and get their visas from the mission offices.

And that’s not all. The Embassy says vaccination is not a must for those who wish to travel to Russia. It says all one needs is to do a Polymerase Chain Reaction test popular as (PCR), to ascertain Covid-19 status, before travel.

In the meantime, the Decree issued by the Russian Government that enlists the categories of foreigners who are allowed to travel to Russia is still in force.

“Those categories include diplomatic and service passport holders, students and cadets, foreign relatives of Russian citizens, participants of sports and business events,” the embassy explained.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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IMF due in Tunisia on Friday for talks: Trade union official

TUNIS, — An International Monetary Fund delegation will arrive in Tunisia on Friday for talks with the government and other groups, a top trade union official said, as fears rise over the North African country’s risk of default.

After meeting representatives of the government and central bank, the IMF team is also scheduled to have discussions with the powerful Tunisian General Labor Union on April 1, its assistant secretary-general Sami Tahri said by phone.

An IMF representative in Tunisia did not immediately answer calls seeking comment.

The birthplace of the Arab Spring is battling to rescue a long-troubled economy that has been further battered by the pandemic and is seeing fresh political uncertainty after President Kais Saied assumed more powers, firing the prime minister and suspending parliament in July.

Fitch Ratings last week downgraded Tunisia’s sovereign debt rating to CCC from B-, reflecting heightened fiscal and external liquidity risks due to delays in agreeing a new IMF deal.

Union opposition has been among the factors hindering earlier attempts by successive Tunisian governments to cut government spending and tackle other key issues. Tahri declined to comment further on the proposed talks or state of negotiations.

The government said last month it hopes to reach an agreement in April.

Morgan Stanley said this week that Tunisia looks unlikely to clinch an IMF loan deal, with political opposition to fiscal reforms raising the risk that the government will eventually default on its debt.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK