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Important information
It is more convenient to exchange dollars or euro for Tunisian dinars in hotels. In Tunisia, the exchange rate is almost the same everywhere. When exchanging the currency, you shall take a receipt to be able to exchange the remaining dinars back for dollars or euro at the airport before the return flight. According to the Tunisian laws, hotels are prohibited from performing the reverse currency exchange.
When departing from Tunisia, customs control officials may request to produce the cash. If in the course of calculation it is discovered that the amount exceeds 5,000 Tunisian dinars, which is approximately 1,500 euro, and if the tourist has no personal declaration for the amount in question which was supposed to be filled in when entering Tunisia, the entire amount of currency will be subject to confiscation. According to Tunisian laws, apart from the confiscation, a fine may be imposed on the passenger (up to 500% of the confiscated amount). If the passenger refuses to pay the fine, he or she may be arrested until the fine is paid or deported with a ban on further entries into Tunisia.
Since Tunisia is highly dependent on the tourist sector, in reality customs control officials usually limit themselves by confiscating the excess amount of money, and no fine is imposed не налагается. However, the existing practice can alter at any time, so it is highly recommended to fill in a declaration if importing large amounts of money into Tunisia.
Travelers who have had their funds confiscated by customs officers are provided with a QR code to upload documents confirming the origin of the money to a special website within 30 days. There is no statistical information available in public sources regarding refunds to tourists. The current experience of the DMC shows that the link provided by the QR code can only be accessed within Tunisia and is not accessible from any other country. Therefore, despite the officially announced 30-day period to confirm the origin of the money, travelers only have a short amount of time between passing through customs and their flight departure from Tunisia. Additionally, when filling out the form via the link, travelers are required to provide a personal mobile number registered in Tunisia. Given the limited time and the lack of Tunisian phone numbers for most travelers, confirming the origin of the money becomes impossible.
Neither the DMC nor the tour operator can influence the resolution of such situations since this is the issue of the tourist’s personal responsibility for the compliance with the Tunisian currency exchange laws. Public officials hold no negotiations with third parties except for Tunisian lawyers hired by the travellers for representing their interests.
Tourists are recommended to study current rules for currency import and export in order to avoid problems and worries before departing from Tunisia.
Important information
For national security reasons, photographing the national flag, objects with the national flag (such as government buildings and police stations), police officers, military personnel, other public servants, and people praying is prohibited in Tunisia. It is also recommended to avoid attending mass events, protests, strikes, and taking photographs of such events, as well as photographing infrastructure objects (such as bridges, airport buildings).
If such actions are noticed, Tunisian law enforcement officers have the right to request access to the device used for taking the photos or videos in order to delete the relevant files or confiscate the device with no possibility of return. Additionally, in both cases, the tourist may be subject to administrative liability.
If criminal intent is suspected in the tourist’s actions, he may be detained. The DMC will provide assistance to the tourist, but neither the tour operator nor the DMC can influence the resolution of such situations, as it is a matter of the tourist’s personal responsibility to comply with Tunisian law. Police authorities do not negotiate with third parties unless it is a Tunisian lawyer hired by the tourists to represent their interests or an official representative from the embassy/consulate of the tourist’s country of citizenship.
Important information
Currently there are three main mobile operators in Tunisia: Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo and Orange.
A SIM card of any of the Tunisian mobile operators can be purchased at the airport and at sales points throughout the city. Tourists can contact the hotel guide who will suggest the nearest place for buying a SIM card. Before making a purchase, it should be taken into account that tourists are required to produce the passport or its photocopy.
For short-term trips to Tunisia (less than 1 month), it is recommended to choose specialized tourist tariff plans that expire after one month. For example, the Tourist SIM plan from Tunisie Telecom, which offers 2GB of internet data for 30 days, costs 10 dinars.
For using a mobile phone in Tunisia for more than a month, it must be registered on the website http://sajalni.tn/verify-device; otherwise, the device will be automatically blocked.
Important information
A particular feature of the All Inclusive and Ultra All Inclusive meal options in Tunisian hotels is the availability of local alcoholic beverages only (unless otherwise provided for by the hotel’s policy). Tunisian-made alcoholic beverages are of good quality; many brands get highly rated at international wine exhibitions year after year. In Tunisia, only dry wines with the alcoholic content of 11-13% are produced; no popular semi-sweet or sweet varieties are common there. The price of Tunisian wines is not excessive: for example, a 0.75 L bottle of quality wine in a shop costs from 30 to 60 Tunisian dinars (~9-19 US dollars).
In Tunisia, alcoholic beverages are commercialized through specialized shops only which have a liquor license and are quite numerous not only in the cities but also in tourist areas. The assortment of alcoholic beverages depends on the shop’s scale; the widest range is available in shops located in the capital city, Tunis.
Imported liquors fall into the category of excisable goods with a high excise tax rate and, therefore, their price for the end consumers is rather high. Imported alcoholic beverages can be ordered in the hotels’ restaurants (for an extra charge) and restaurants outside the hotels or bought in shops.
During the holy month of Ramadan, liquors in hotels and in restaurants and bars outside the hotels which have a corresponding license are served to foreigners with no restrictions. However, the sale of alcoholic beverages in specialized shops is totally prohibited not only during the month of Ramadan but also on Fridays throughout the year.
Important information
There are a lot of mosques in Tunisia, and the majority of its residents are Muslim. However, foreign visitors are not required to follow a strict Islamic dress code or adhere to the rules of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Yet, tourists shall abstain from visiting non-tourist areas and religious places in open clothes, shorts, and tops.
We kindly ask tourists to treat both local residents and other tourists respectfully, not to make photographs of people without their permission, and not to visit public areas in a state of alcoholic intoxication.
For national security reasons, it is prohibited in Tunisia to photograph the national flag, objects displaying the national flag (such as administrative buildings and police stations), police officers, military personnel, other government officials, and people engaged in prayer. It is also advised not to attend or photograph mass gatherings, rallies, or strikes, and not to take pictures of infrastructure objects (such as bridges and airport buildings). If such actions are observed, government officials have the right to require tourists to delete the photos. In case of refusal, the tourist may be detained by the police.
Tips as a form of gratitude are not obligatory and are given at the tourists’ discretion. When in the hotel, tourists can reward housekeeper maids, bartenders, waiters or bell boys for their good job. The tip size is usually two or more dinars, as the guest deems most appropriate. The size of the tip to be left in a restaurant outside the hotel is determined by the guests. According to the unspoken rule, it should be around 10% of the bill amount.
When in public places, tourists shall exercise caution and not leave personal belongings unattended to avoid theft. When exiting the hotel’s premises, tourists are recommended to carry a photo or a copy of their passports, leaving valuable belongings and documents in an in-room safe.
