Tunisia Country & Tourist Information

Location
North Africa.

Area
163,610 sq km (63,170 sq miles).

Population
10.7 million (official estimate 2005).

Population Density
63 per sq km.

Capital
Tunis.
Population: 700 thousand (official estimate 2003 [excluding suburbs]).

Government
Republic since 1959. Gained independence from France in 1956. 
Recent history: Celebrating 50 years of independence from France during 2006, Tunisia has so far had only two Presidents. The ‘Founding Father’ of the independent country, Habib Bourgiba, ruled from 1956 until he was judged senile and unable to continue in power in 1987, when the current incumbent, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali assumed power in a bloodless coup. The Rassemblement Constitutionel Démocratique (RCD) continues to hold a substantial majority in the Majlis al-Nuwaab (Chamber of Deputies). A Presidential poll was held in March 1994 and Ben Ali was ‘re-elected’ with 99.9 per cent of the vote. At legislative elections held at the same time, half of the 19 seats reserved for the opposition were allocated to the Democratic Socialists and the others divided between the Mouvement de la Renovation (formerly the Communists), the Parti de l’Unité Populaire and the Union Démocratique Unioniste. The 1999 Presidential vote produced a similar result, giving Ben Ali a third consecutive term. Strictly speaking, a fourth term was forbidden by the constitution but a Referendum in 2002 allowed Ali to stand for up to another two terms. Unsurprisingly, Ali won the controversial fourth term in 2004 with the main opposition party withdrawing two days prior to the vote stating that their participation would only serve to legitimise a rigged election.
Under the 1959 constitution, legislation is the responsibility of the unicameral Chamber of Deputies, whose 163 members are elected by universal adult suffrage for five years. All but 19 seats, which are reserved for opposition parties under a system of proportional representation, are elected under a simple majority system. The President, who is also elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term, is Head of State and appoints a Prime Minister and Council of Ministers who exercise executive power under his leadership. There are also various advisory bodies – the State Council, the Social and Economic Council, the Constitutional Council and the Higher Islamic Council.

Language
The official language is Arabic. French is the second language, Italian is spoken in major cities, and English and German mainly in tourist resorts.

Religion
The principal religion is Islam; there are small Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish minorities.

Time
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220/110 volts AC, 50Hz. A two-pin continental plug/adaptor is needed.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi since 1999.

Head of State
President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali since 1987.

Telephone
Full IDD is available. Country code: 216. Automatic dialing extends to almost every part of the country and covers direct international calls.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements with international mobile phone companies exist.

Internet
E-mail can be accessed from Internet cafes in Tunis, Nabeul, Sousse and Tahar ben Amar.

Media
The government retains a tight hold on local broadcasting and the press, despite freedom of information being ‘guaranteed’ by the constitution. The internet is also monitored – making the choice of Tunisia for the November 2005 Global Information conference a somewhat controversial one.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes three to five days; an express service guarantees delivery in four days or under. Post office hours: Mon-Sat 0730-1330 (summer); Mon-Fri 0830-1300 and 1500-1745, Sat 0830-1330 (winter); Mon-Thur 0830-1430, Fri-Sat 0830-1430 and 0830-1330 (during Ramadan).

Press
Daily newspapers are printed in Arabic or French, the most popular being As-Sabah, La Presse de Tunisie, Le Temps and Tunisia Daily.

Radio
State-run Tunisian Radio and privately-owned Radio Mosaique are the principal radio broadcasters.

Below are Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Hegire (Islamic New Year).
20 Mar Independence Day.
21 Mar Youth Day.
31 Mar Mouled (Prophet’s Anniversary).
9 Apr Martyrs’ Day.
1 May Labor Day.
25 Jul Republic Day.
13 Aug Women’s Day.
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
7 Nov New Era Day.
20 Dec Eid al-Idha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
10 Jan Hegire (Islamic New Year).
20 Mar Independence Day.
21 Mar Youth Day. 
20 Mar Mouled (Prophet’s Anniversary).
9 Apr Martyrs’ Day.
1 May Labor Day.
25 Jul Republic Day.
13 Aug Women’s Day. 
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
7 Nov New Era Day. 
9 Dec Eid al-Idha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
29 Dec Hegire (Islamic New Year).

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Idha may last for two days.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in the UK
29 Prince’s Gate, London SW7 1QG, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 8117 (for enquiries) or 09065 508 977 (24-hour visa information line; calls cost £1 a minute).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 0930-1300 (consular section); Mon-Thurs 0930-1300 (visa submissions).

Tunisian National Tourist Office in the UK
77A Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QF, UK
Tel: (020) 7224 5561 or 5598 (press).
Website: www.cometotunisia.co.uk

Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in the USA
1515 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 862 1850 or 680 6006 (tourism enquiries).


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