USAID VISIT TUNISIA QUARTERLY REPORT, OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2022

Key highlights of the reporting period include the delivery of a three-year Marketing Plan for the National Tourism Office (ONTT) to build demand for sustainable tourism in high-value markets. The plan aligns with ONTT's priorities of diversification, sustainability, and digitalization. The USAID Visit Tunisia Activity also financed 151 grant and loan packages to micro and very small enterprises operating in the tourism sector across Tunisia, prioritizing underserved regions. The initiative inspired thousands of Tunisians to explore domestic tourism adventures through the "Tounes Lik" campaign, which garnered over 14 million views on social media. Additionally, the activity published 8 human-centered impact and success stories based on a storytelling approach to highlight the project's positive influence. The USAID Visit Tunisia Activity contributed to the success of the International Oases Festival in Tozeur and the Mouled Festival in Kairouan under the Festival Incubator program. The activity engaged public and private local tourism stakeholders through Destination Development design and advisory panels. Furthermore, the USAID Visit Tunisia Activity strengthened the capacity of 27 professionals from 8 of the largest tourism industry federations through the UPSKILL program. The activity also empowered 75 professionals to improve the quality of hotel services in Tunis and Hammamet through the Pathways to Professionalism program. Additionally, the USAID Visit Tunisia Activity selected 9 innovative tourism businesses to benefit from grants and technical assistance on product development and marketing under the Tourism Innovation Fund. The nationwide domestic tourism campaign "Tounes Lik" implemented by the USAID Visit Tunisia Activity in partnership with the National Tourism Office (ONTT) was recognized as the most successful domestic campaign in Tunisia to date. The campaign encouraged local travelers to explore Tunisia's diverse tourism destinations and share their experiences using the campaign hashtag #touneslik and the @touneslik tag. The content produced by the USAID Visit Tunisia Activity increased the number of followers to ONTT's Tounes Lik Facebook page from 45K to 90K (100% increase) and from 1K to 55K (5500% increase) on Instagram over a period of 8 months. The campaign created support for local tourism enterprises and artisans hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many featured businesses reported a significant increase in interest from people in their products and services, leading to increased revenue. The campaign also encouraged local travelers to explore diverse destinations and share their experiences using the campaign hashtag #touneslik and the @touneslik tag. The USAID Visit Tunisia Activity's efforts to promote sustainable tourism and support local tourism enterprises have had a positive impact on the tourism sector in Tunisia. The activity's initiatives have helped to increase demand for sustainable tourism, support local businesses, and promote cultural festivals. The activity's success in engaging public and private local tourism stakeholders and strengthening the capacity of tourism professionals has also contributed to the growth of the tourism sector in Tunisia. The USAID Visit Tunisia Activity's quarterly report highlights the progress made in promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local tourism enterprises in Tunisia. The report provides an overview of the activity's key achievements and initiatives, including the delivery of the Marketing Plan for ONTT, the financing of grant and loan packages to micro and very small enterprises, and the promotion of domestic tourism through the "Tounes Lik" campaign. The report also highlights the activity's efforts to engage public and private local tourism stakeholders and strengthen the capacity of tourism professionals. The USAID Visit Tunisia Activity's quarterly report provides valuable insights into the progress made in promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local tourism enterprises in Tunisia. The report highlights the activity's key achievements and initiatives, and provides an overview of the activity's efforts to engage public and private local tourism stakeholders and strengthen the capacity of tourism professionals. The report also highlights the activity's success in promoting cultural festivals and supporting local businesses, and provides recommendations for future initiatives.