Tunisian Geopark listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Since the end of April, the Dahar region, located in the South of Tunisia has been officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its geopark of 6000km. 

According to RFI, this new listing brings hope to the tourism sector in Tunisia, expecting to bring forward new destinations in travel itineraries and boost the economy of the region. 

After discovering dinosaur fossils in 2014 around Tataouine, Tunisian geologists started to think of ways to preserve and develop the site. Through the fossils and soil, analysis can be made about times approximately 200 million years before our era, while a very rich biodiversity also coexists on the site. Evolution of cultures, empires and civilisations can also be analysed, starting during the Neolithic period, approximately 5000 years BC. 

This new listing and development of the World Heritage geopark gives hope to Tunisian tourism actors to broaden tourist profiles and destinations. Framing it in 2014 as “Destination Dahar”, the project was able to get financial aid and investments from many countries, particularly in partnership with Swisscontact. 

Swiss tourists are one of the most awaited nationalities, as they are expected to be consumers of natural and alternative tourism. Director of the FTAAD (Federation Tunisienne authentique de la destination de Dahar), Rabiaâ Ounissi, added that since the Covid pandemic, demand for alternative nature destinations and tourism has gone up internationally, and is felt in Tunisia. 

“Destination Dahar” now gives place to houses, hikes, and information centres around the region. 

As Tunisia was hit with terrorist attacks in 2015, Destination Dahar was partially compromised as investors and reputations were crumbling. However, the FTAAD saw it as an opportunity to rebuild a tourism image for Tunisia, as well as create a new idea of the South, usually seen as a region of transit for tourists. 

Since the labelisation, the expectations are numerous. The unemployment rates in the region of Tataouine vary between 30% and 50%, and account for one of the highest rates of unemployment among young people, at 58%. 

RFI, Maghrebi.org