While in Tunisia many voices are being raised to criticize the gradual disappearance of checks and balances, entry formalities are becoming easier.
On the strength of its notorious progress in terms of vaccination (82% of those over 40, 67% of those over 12 and 100% of tourist staff have completed their vaccination schedules), the Council of Ministers lifted the
curfew
on Thursday 10 February, everywhere in the country, and decided that from February 15, 2022, travelers arriving in the territory and over the age of 18 will be exempt from presenting a negative PCR test.
Will this signal bring tourists back?
Not sure, Tunisian President Kais Saied replaced the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) on Sunday February 13, which he dissolved a week ago,
temporary
" and gave itself the power to dismiss judges and forbid them to go on strike.
A few hours after the publication of this decision, more than 1000 demonstrators gathered in the center of Tunis to protest against the new measures of the Tunisian president and to express their fears about the independence of the judicial system.
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Arrival in Tunisia: what entry conditions for French tourists?
For vaccinated travellers:
The formalities for entering the country are being simplified, since from
Tuesday February 15, 2022
, "
the PCR or antigen test is no longer compulsory for travelers with a complete vaccination schedule
", confirms to
Figaro
, the Tunisian National Tourist Office in France.
For unvaccinated travellers:
All travelers over the age of 6 going to Tunisia must:
present a
negative PCR test for Covid-19, bearing a QR code, carried out less than 48 hours
before the first boarding or
a negative antigen test (TDR-Ag), bearing a QR code, carried out less than 24 hours
before the first boarding (self-tests are not recognized).
For all travellers:
A
health form must be completed
on the app.e7mi.tn website and presented in digital or paper format at check-in and on arrival.
What happens in the event of a positive test upon arrival in Tunisia?
Rapid tests or PCR will be carried out randomly
for arrivals aged 6 and over.
If the test is positive on arrival
(rapid or PCR tests are carried out on a random basis), the traveler concerned will have to submit to
self-isolation for five days
and if the symptoms persist, this period will increase to seven days.
All costs relating to transfer and accommodation are at his expense.
Residents
who
test positive will be required to self-isolate at home.
What are the conditions for children?
Those who have not completed the vaccination schedule and whose age is over six years old
must present either the
negative result of a PCR test
carried out no later than 48 hours before arrival on Tunisian soil, or the
result of an antigen test
(not exceeding 24 hours).
Rapid tests or PCR will also be carried out randomly for young travelers aged 6 and over.
Note:
minors (under 18) traveling alone and minors accompanying people vaccinated against Covid-19 are exempt from compulsory confinement.
Vaccination pass, hotels, restaurants… The measures in force in Tunisia
In Sidi Bou Saïd (in photo) as elsewhere, Tunisia lifted the curfew on Thursday February 10, 2022, everywhere in the country.
Anibal Trejo / stock.adobe.com
Tunisia lifted the curfew Thursday, February 10, everywhere in the country, and decided to apply a
vaccination pass.
The latter is in theory required to access all public places, administrations, hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops, sports halls or hammams, for all people over 18 years of age.
Note that the
European health pass
is recognized by the Tunisian authorities.
Finally, respect for wearing a mask, physical distancing or ventilation of closed spaces is still in effect.
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Return to France: what is the protocol?
For
travelers who have been vaccinated
within the meaning of European regulations, no further tests are required.
Proof of a complete vaccination schedule is sufficient to return to France, as was the case before the release of the Omicron variant.
For
unvaccinated travellers
, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains.
They may still be subject to a random test upon arrival.
Travelers who test positive will have to isolate themselves, in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Insurance.
It is recommended to keep yourself regularly informed, to follow the recommendations of local authorities and to consult the website of the French Embassy in Tunisia.
Since the start of the pandemic and as of February 12, 2022, Tunisia has officially recorded 964,957 cases of coronavirus, including 27,065 deaths.
The health crisis has brought tourism, which accounts for 14% of the country's GDP, to its knees.
This key sector had suffered from instability and then from insecurity after the 2011 revolution, before rebounding in recent years to exceed 9.5 million visitors in 2019. But in 2020, the number of arrivals has fell by 80% and tourism receipts by 64%.