Tunisia's yachting sector: immense potential remains under-exploited

Tunisia has a vast, largely untapped potential in its yachting sector, according to Anis Zarrouk, secretary general of the national chamber for nautical activities. He highlighted the country's 1,300 kilometers of coastline, strategic Mediterranean position, and favorable climate as key assets. Despite these advantages, Tunisia trails behind regional and European competitors.

“

Tunisia must accelerate the development of its yachting sector to capitalize on its largely underutilized potential.

Zarrouk pointed to significant limitations in port infrastructure. While ports undergo annual maintenance for the summer season, deficiencies persist. These include a lack of basic services like restaurants and kiosks in some ports, insufficient dry-docking areas for boat maintenance, and inadequate space for large yachts. He stressed that developing the sector necessitates "structuring investment" inspired by international models, citing exchanges with European stakeholders and nautical trade shows.

The secretary general emphasized Tunisia's competitive edge in pricing, offering significantly lower rates than Europe. He also noted the country's diverse landscape, from coastlines to northern forests and southern deserts, along with a millennia-old maritime heritage. These factors currently attract mid-sized yacht owners, while large yacht tourism is limited to technical stops rather than extended stays. The infrastructure deficit remains a major obstacle, with only Bizerte marina in the north offering substantial capacity, while areas like Mahdia, Sfax, and Zarzis lack suitable facilities.

“

The development of the sector requires structuring investment inspired by international models.

Comparing Tunisia to destinations like Sicily or Malta, which boast dense marina networks despite similar or smaller coastlines, Zarrouk concluded that Tunisia must rapidly increase its port capacity to become a regional hub. He also underscored yachting's economic role in fostering integrated tourism, attracting high-spending clients who can engage with thalassotherapy, golf, cultural, and ecological tourism. Enhancing cooperation between ports and travel agencies is crucial to directing these visitors toward national tourist offerings. The sector's upgrade also depends on achieving certification and adhering to environmental standards.

“

Yacht owners are a clientele with high purchasing power likely to consume in other sectors such as thalassotherapy, golf, padel, or cultural and ecological tourism.