World Bank plan to promote eco-tourism in South Tunisia

The judicious utilization of the sahara biological heritage and the development of customs in the southern region of Kébili to provide a new eco-tourism product in South Tunisia were the focus of the working session held on Wednesday at the premises of Kébili Governor's office with attendance of World Bank experts and tourism and environment senior executives. The meeting allowed to review the natural resources in Nefzaoua, notably the Chotts (salt lakes), oases and Sahara that host flora and fauna likely to favour the development of eco-tourism. The World Bank is indeed endeavouring to carry out a tourist and environmental project in the southern governorates of Tunisia by means of investments worth about 4,2 million dollars and a survey is being worked out in thsi regard by the bank experts through an amount of 200 000 dollars. Participants explained that the large surface areas of the governorate (2,2 million hectares) provided an ecosystem adapted to this kind of tourism, especially the national park of Jebil extending over 150 hectares. A second World Bank team will carry out a more thorough survey later.