The largely forgotten holiday hotspot taking on Spain – with cheap three-hour flights and 35C summers
AN OVERLOOKED holiday destination is taking on Spain as Brits search for cheaper deals where you can still find some sun.
A new survey has found that Tunisia is seeing a boom in demand for holidaymakers.
Revealed by HolidayPirates as part of their Summer Travel Trends survey, they found that interest in Spain as a destination has dropped by half, with an average 15 per cent price increase.
However, interest in Tunisia has soared by 70 per cent, with package holiday prices down by 20 per cent.
Raphael Giacardi, Chief Editor UK at HolidayPirates, said: “Although the inflation rate has now lowered, the effects of its highs over the last year remain and external pressures including the rising cost of holiday packages is certainly having its impact on summer travel.
“We’ve seen that the nature of their travel is adapting according to affordability, and many are heading where the best deals take them rather than sticking with the most commonly-visited destinations at all costs.”
Tunisia was once one of the most popular winter sun destinations, along with Egypt and Morocco.
However, this changed in 2015 after 38 people, 30 of which were Brits, were killed after an attack at the beach resort of Sousse.
Travel was advised against by the UK government, but this was then lifted by 2018 with flights and holiday packages resumed.
And while the Foreign Office deems the majority of beach resorts safe to visit, the return to Tunisia holidays has been slow.
Dubbed the ‘budget friendly St Tropez’ as well as often compared to Santorini, it is a great option for a more affordable holiday destination.
The popular sandy beaches are found at Monastir and Hammamet, with the latter known for its nightlife and beach bars.
Other things to see include Carthageland, North Africa’s first theme park, as well as the 15th century Medina of Hammamet.
An ABTA spokesperson previously told Sun Travel: “”Tunisia has long been a popular destination for UK holidaymakers, offering beautiful sandy beaches, desert safaris and the chance to visit Roman ruins – all within easy distance of the UK.
“Tunisia also offers great value for money – a top priority for many holidaymakers.
“So beachfront areas like Hammamet or Port El Kantaoui, where all-inclusive resorts are plentiful, are likely to be popular for those who want to keep their holiday costs in check.
What is a holiday to Tunisia like?
The Sun’s Assistant News Editor Emer Scully recently visited Tunisia – here’s what they said.
Just a short hop from Sicily, Tunisia is often overlooked as a holiday destination but it offers the same draws as many top European countries — for a fraction of the price.
The charming town of Sidi Bou Said could easily be mistaken for Greece’s Santorini, but without the price.
A three-course traditional Tunisian meal is £10 at its best-value restaurant, Café Restaurant Chargui, and a night’s stay at quaint bed and breakfast Boufares is £15.
The town offers stunning ocean views, and its streets are lined with immaculately painted white buildings, with doors and window shutters all the same shade of blue.
“It’s also a great destination for anyone looking to travel outside of the peak summer months, as it offers warm, sunny weather from March to November.”
Its just three hours from the UK by flight, and easyJet offers routes from eight airports from just £38 each way.
The newest easyJet flights were launched earlier this year, from Glasgow to Enfidha in Tunisia.
If you want a package holiday, you can find cheap deals for that too with all-inclusives under £300.
It is also a great summer destination, hitting 35C highs.
Make sure to get some foreign currency, as you will need to use the Tunisian dinar.
Don’t worry about jet lag either, with the country just one hour ahead of the UK.
Here are some other cheap all-inclusive holiday deals you can still book this summer.