Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TUNIS2170
2006-08-21 09:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
Beywatch: Are You Really American?
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #2170 2330933 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210933Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1649
UNCLAS TUNIS 002170
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG (M.HARRIS); HR/EL DIVISION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI SCUL ECON TS
SUBJECT: Beywatch: Are You Really American?
Tunisians Want to Know!
UNCLAS TUNIS 002170
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG (M.HARRIS); HR/EL DIVISION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI SCUL ECON TS
SUBJECT: Beywatch: Are You Really American?
Tunisians Want to Know!
1. The following is one of a series of reporting
cables drafted by Post's entry level officers, which
have the "Beywatch" caption. We believe the
perspectives offered in the following vignette will
give the reader a look into everyday life in Tunisia
that may not be central to more formal reporting. For
more information about Tunisia or the Embassy Tunis
Entry Level Officer Development initiative, see our
Siprnet website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm.
2. A recent trip to Djerba, an island off the coast of
Tunisia, revealed a funny thing about tourists: it's
not just Americans who travel the globe to find what
they left at home. Conoff and CAO took a last minute
four-day trip to this tourist destination island at the
height of the summer season. Arriving at the SprinClub
hotel on a Sunday morning, they were enthusiastically
greeted in Italian. Taken aback, but ever ready to
adapt to the situation at hand, Conoff reached into the
back of her brain and responded in Italian. One look
at the proffered diplomatic identification cards and
the staff quickly turned to English, but they were the
first of many incredulous interlocutors to express
surprise that their guests were Americans.
3. For Tunisia, "Tourism is by far the largest services
sector contributor," claims an on-line report of Oxford
Business Group. The World Travel and Tourism Council
(WTTC) report on Tunisia for 2006 estimates that "T&T
Economy employment is 510,000 jobs in 2006, 17.0
percent of total employment, or 1 in every 5.9 jobs."
It estimates an increase by 2016 to 618,000 jobs, or
one in every 5.8 jobs." It also notes that "the 271,000
T&T Industry jobs account for 9.0 percent of total
employment in 2006 and are forecast to total 337,000
jobs or 9.4 percent of the total by 2016." And it
estimates the amount of tourism-generated economic
activity at about $6.5 billion for 2006. Tunisian
tourism, however, has not typically reached out to
Americans. According to the U.S. Country Commercial
Guide on Tunisia, in 2005 only 15,700 of the 6.3
million tourists traveling to Tunisia were American.
The overall total included more than a million each of
French, and Libyan tourists, almost a million
Algerians, and more than half a million Germans, so
it's no surprise that there was a dearth of American
tourists in Djerba. However, the reaction to Emboffs'
presence was truly surprising in its depth of
astonishment. The imported Italian staff largely
ignored them, but word that Americans were about in
this Italian hotel (even the restrooms were indicated
with signs in Italian!) spread like wildfire, and soon
the entire Djerbian staff addressed them with a "hello"
or "good morning." They were marked.
4. The same conversation repeated itself wherever
Emboffs went. They would address someone in French and
the person would immediately want to know if they were
French. No? Swiss? Belgian? Czech? Polish? Well,
what then? The response "American" would immediately
elicit an incredulous look and another question: "Des
vraies americaines?"-"Real Americans?" From what
origin, they would want to know. The most amusing
interaction was with a hotel retail store owner who
told Emboffs they were the first Americans he had ever
met! The same conversation was repeated again and
again in the souk, in taxis, in the airport, and in
restaurants. Though incredulous, the Djerbians
appeared to be genuinely pleased to meet Americans.
5. Reports like "Cultural Diplomacy: The Linchpin of
Public Diplomacy," published in September 2005, make it
clear that interpersonal interaction is key to mutual
understanding. Tourism can play an important, albeit
uncontrolled, role in this endeavor. While an increase
in American visitors would certainly help Tunisian
tourism in general, it could also serve as a conduit
for intercultural dialogue that is much needed in this
part of the world. In the meantime, Embassy staff will
do its part exploring nooks and crannies off the beaten
American tourist path to show our faces, make
connections, and expose Tunisians to "les vrais
americains."
BALLARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG (M.HARRIS); HR/EL DIVISION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI SCUL ECON TS
SUBJECT: Beywatch: Are You Really American?
Tunisians Want to Know!
1. The following is one of a series of reporting
cables drafted by Post's entry level officers, which
have the "Beywatch" caption. We believe the
perspectives offered in the following vignette will
give the reader a look into everyday life in Tunisia
that may not be central to more formal reporting. For
more information about Tunisia or the Embassy Tunis
Entry Level Officer Development initiative, see our
Siprnet website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm.
2. A recent trip to Djerba, an island off the coast of
Tunisia, revealed a funny thing about tourists: it's
not just Americans who travel the globe to find what
they left at home. Conoff and CAO took a last minute
four-day trip to this tourist destination island at the
height of the summer season. Arriving at the SprinClub
hotel on a Sunday morning, they were enthusiastically
greeted in Italian. Taken aback, but ever ready to
adapt to the situation at hand, Conoff reached into the
back of her brain and responded in Italian. One look
at the proffered diplomatic identification cards and
the staff quickly turned to English, but they were the
first of many incredulous interlocutors to express
surprise that their guests were Americans.
3. For Tunisia, "Tourism is by far the largest services
sector contributor," claims an on-line report of Oxford
Business Group. The World Travel and Tourism Council
(WTTC) report on Tunisia for 2006 estimates that "T&T
Economy employment is 510,000 jobs in 2006, 17.0
percent of total employment, or 1 in every 5.9 jobs."
It estimates an increase by 2016 to 618,000 jobs, or
one in every 5.8 jobs." It also notes that "the 271,000
T&T Industry jobs account for 9.0 percent of total
employment in 2006 and are forecast to total 337,000
jobs or 9.4 percent of the total by 2016." And it
estimates the amount of tourism-generated economic
activity at about $6.5 billion for 2006. Tunisian
tourism, however, has not typically reached out to
Americans. According to the U.S. Country Commercial
Guide on Tunisia, in 2005 only 15,700 of the 6.3
million tourists traveling to Tunisia were American.
The overall total included more than a million each of
French, and Libyan tourists, almost a million
Algerians, and more than half a million Germans, so
it's no surprise that there was a dearth of American
tourists in Djerba. However, the reaction to Emboffs'
presence was truly surprising in its depth of
astonishment. The imported Italian staff largely
ignored them, but word that Americans were about in
this Italian hotel (even the restrooms were indicated
with signs in Italian!) spread like wildfire, and soon
the entire Djerbian staff addressed them with a "hello"
or "good morning." They were marked.
4. The same conversation repeated itself wherever
Emboffs went. They would address someone in French and
the person would immediately want to know if they were
French. No? Swiss? Belgian? Czech? Polish? Well,
what then? The response "American" would immediately
elicit an incredulous look and another question: "Des
vraies americaines?"-"Real Americans?" From what
origin, they would want to know. The most amusing
interaction was with a hotel retail store owner who
told Emboffs they were the first Americans he had ever
met! The same conversation was repeated again and
again in the souk, in taxis, in the airport, and in
restaurants. Though incredulous, the Djerbians
appeared to be genuinely pleased to meet Americans.
5. Reports like "Cultural Diplomacy: The Linchpin of
Public Diplomacy," published in September 2005, make it
clear that interpersonal interaction is key to mutual
understanding. Tourism can play an important, albeit
uncontrolled, role in this endeavor. While an increase
in American visitors would certainly help Tunisian
tourism in general, it could also serve as a conduit
for intercultural dialogue that is much needed in this
part of the world. In the meantime, Embassy staff will
do its part exploring nooks and crannies off the beaten
American tourist path to show our faces, make
connections, and expose Tunisians to "les vrais
americains."
BALLARD