Residence in Tunisia Attracts European Over-fifties, Pensioners

More and more Europeans in their fifties and above, are choosing Tunisia as their retirement resort after considering some advantages that the northern African country offers.

Data at the National Tunisian tourism office (ONTT) based on a study by the German survey institute Allensbach, indicate that 19% of active Germans want to migrate to a country where the cost of living is less expensive after retirement.

16-29 years (23%) are more interested then follows 30-49 years (20%) and over 50 years active people (12%) while among university graduates, 20% said they are ready to leave their fatherland once they retire against 18% non-graduates.

The same source revealed that 21 million French people will be over 60 by 2035 against 12 million today.

The pensioners are used to traveling. Some of them choose a sunny destination for their retirement. The Tunisia destination does appeal to them, taking into account its proximity, its soft and Mediterranean climate, the security and the less expensive cost of living, the study revealed.

“This age bracket is an important segment for our economy,” Radhouane Ben Salah, hotelier and former president of the Tunisian hotel business association (FTH), said.

“You can see these last years the arrival of several Europeans chiefly from France, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland who buy residences and even orchards to have their own house and settle finally in Tunisia.”

Mr. Ben Salah adds that this phenomenon “will certainly contribute to develop residential tourism in our country.”

The hotelier and director of the specialized magazine “Tourisme Info”, Afif Kchok, shared this view.

“While at just one hour flight from Europe, Tunisia which appeals to over-fifties because of its Mediterranean, Eastern and African exoticism, is seen today as big suburbs of Europe,” Kchok said.

“To change environment and recharge one’s batteries without being too far from home, Tunisia has all the advantages of attracting these pensioners and of being the second home of the European city dwellers,” he added.

This should be exploited by the participants of Tunisian tourism but it will be necessary “to organize, to structure and reassert the value at the administrative, commercial and promotional level,” Ben Salah, specialist in the British market, recommended.

“This requires a true marketing strategy and a development policy to promote the image of Tunisia as a residential destination,” ONTT Production Director Habib Ferchichi said.

“The decision makers in this field should call for concrete actions, a stronger presence of the Tunisian professionals at exhibitions and large-scale real estate tourism events. This residential sector should be considered independently of the other more traditional products and those with foothold in the market.”

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher