Tunis, Tunisia:
The big blue

It was here, on the shores of the Mediterranean, that the Punics founded Carthage, which once ruled the world. This is the land of Hannibal. And also that of the great Muslim thinker Ibn Khaldoun. It is home to one of the most beautiful and unspoilt medinas in the Arab world, with the Zitouna Mosque at its heart. Despite the vicissitudes of modernity, politics, economic crisis, pollution, and demographic and urban growth, Tunis retains a special, mixed charm, an atmosphere in which Tunisian, Ottoman, French and Italian influences intersect. In spring and summer, street food and nightlife thrive. Less than 15 km away, connected by a six-lane motorway (as dangerous as it is congested), lie the ‘northern suburbs’ on the edge of the Mediterranean, almost like another planet. Carthage, Sidi Bou Saïd, ‘the most beautiful village in the world’, La Marsa, Gammarth, all bathed in a kind of tranquillity... Tunis, however, is not just about holidays and pleasures. The city is the economic, political, intellectual, academic and trade union heart of the Republic. With its 2 million-strong population, Greater Tunis accounts for a third of the country’s GDP. The city is establishing itself as an emerging digital hub just a few hours from Europe. Technoparks such as El Ghazala, public and private incubators, and a network of digital services, fintech and telecoms start-ups reflect a transformation driven by an educated youth, renowned engineering schools and a strong ambition and potential. Tunis is also a rapidly developing international medical hub, particularly in cosmetic surgery, implants, cardiac surgery, ophthalmology, and orthopaedic assessments and treatments. Lastly, Tunis is the main gateway to a tourism industry that remains surprisingly resilient. The country welcomed 10 million tourists in 2024, a record number. Tunis-Carthage Airport, built in the early 1970s, is saturated and undergoing renovation after renovation to meet the challenges of increasing passenger numbers and the demands of the times.