Tunisia Finally Drops COVID Restrictions: Find Out What It Offers
It has been almost three years since Tunisia first closed its borders to travelers, due to the pandemic. However, now the North African country has dropped all its COVID-era regulations while returning to normal tourism.
Tunisia drops all COVID-era border regulations
The North African country of Tunisia lies on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Libya to the southeast and Algeria to the west. Meanwhile, the country is renowned for its unspoiled nature, idyllic beaches with crystal-clear waters, and backed by rugged mountains. It is also famous for its ancient Roman heritage that can be seen in the cities.
Almost three years ago, Tunisia slammed its borders to tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has been cautious about reopening. However, finally, the country has dropped all border travel regulations and is allowing tourism to resume.
Starting this week, Americans, Canadians and other international travelers on a short-term visit will no longer be subject to health checks on arrival. In fact, Americans and Canadians can now stay in Tunisia visa-free for up to 90 days.
No vaccination or testing is required to enter the country
As the latest country in Africa to drop COVID regulations, December 1 saw Tunisia’s Health Ministry drop all travel rules relating to the pandemic. In fact, it has now returned to its normal border entry requirements.
Previously, during 2020 and 2021, Tunisia had adopted strict measures to stop the latest variants from entering the country. To do so, they limited the number of arrivals and insisted that all travelers were vaccinated prior to travel.
Meanwhile, now, the Ministry has confirmed that excessively strict measures are no longer required. In fact, part of the country’s reasoning led the country to join Egypt and Morocco in dropping restrictions due to the dwindling number of cases in the country. Prior to reopening its borders, zero COVID-related deaths had been reported in the last week. Meanwhile, between November 21 and November 27, only 81 infections were reported.
Due to this, travelers are no longer required to present a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen test. Moreover, the seven-day mandatory quarantine has also been dropped and unvaccinated travelers are no longer stopped from entering Tunisia.
However, there is one carryover from the pandemic, and that involves the wearing of face masks. While all other regulations are dropped, face masks are still mandatory in enclosed spaces and during infection. In fact, the Ministry hasn’t ruled out further updates to the new protocols or reintroduction of measures if they are deemed necessary.
What does Tunisia offer travelers?
Tunisia is considered one of the top destinations on the African continent. Meanwhile, tourism accounts for around 2.1 percent of the gross domestic product and up to 10 percent of all international travel revenue in North Africa. Naturally, COVID hit businesses and the hospitality industry particularly hard during the pandemic.
Besides its Mediterranean atmosphere and idyllic beach locations, the country is also one of the most interesting countries in North Africa. Tunisia has seen the rise and fall of a number of world powers, including the Romans, Ottomans and the French. However, over the centuries, a distinct Tunisian culture has emerged.
Among the country’s most iconic monuments is the Amphitheater of El Jam, built around 238 AD. Moreover, the ruins of the legendary city-state of Carthage are also worth a visit. The city dates from a time when it monopolized trade in the Eastern Mediterranean for almost eight centuries. Other must-see sites are the medieval fortress of Ribat, the Medina of Tunis and Djerba Beach.
Getting to Tunisia
While there are no direct flights from the US or Canada, Tunisia can be easily reached with one-stop flights connecting to several North African, European, or Asian airports. However, travelers should check transit requirements before booking flights.