Spain takes up tunisia tourism slump

Spain is expected to benefit from a slump in Tunisia's tourism industry following the tragic killing of dozens of visitors by a gunman.

The attack, which took place last month, added to existing concerns for those planning to visit Tunisia. While the Foreign Office has been working closely with the country's authorities since the Sousse attack, the FCO decided at the start of this month that a further terrorist attack is highly likely. Therefore, it raised its warnings against travel to the country for British tourists, saying that "on balance, we do not believe the mitigation measures in place provide adequate protection for British tourists in Tunisia at the present time".

Tunisian officials are now lobbying for the UK government to change its advice, as tourists plan to book elsewhere instead for their summer break.

Angelo Rossini, an analyst from market research firm Euromonitor, told Reuters that Spain is likely to be the biggest beneficiary, thanks to the countries' similar profile in target visitors: those seeking a "value-for-money all-inclusive holiday".

"It's clear that some tourists will now change Tunisia for continental Spain or the Canary Islands, but they will have to pay more," Juan Molas, chairman of the Spanish Hotel Federation Cehat, told the news agency.