Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TUNIS365
2007-03-22 17:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM, TOURISM MORE THAN JUST
how-toVZCZCXRO2844 PP RUEHTRO DE RUEHTU #0365 0811736 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221736Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2885 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0880 RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7454 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1288 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0875 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1753 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8361 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0081 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 4080 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS TUNIS 000365
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS),INFO NEA/PPD
STATE PASS USTR (BELL),USPTO (ADLIN AND ADAMS),USAID
(MCCLOUD)
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATHAN MASON),ADVOCACY CTR (JAMES),
AND CLDP (TEJTEL)
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD OEXC EAIR KPAO TS
SUBJECT: FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM, TOURISM MORE THAN JUST
MONEY
UNCLAS TUNIS 000365
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS),INFO NEA/PPD
STATE PASS USTR (BELL),USPTO (ADLIN AND ADAMS),USAID
(MCCLOUD)
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATHAN MASON),ADVOCACY CTR (JAMES),
AND CLDP (TEJTEL)
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD OEXC EAIR KPAO TS
SUBJECT: FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM, TOURISM MORE THAN JUST
MONEY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During Ambassador's March 16 courtesy call,
Minister of Tourism Tijani Haddad expressed great enthusiasm
for increasing American tourism to Tunisia and made an
impassioned plea for increasing the level of cultural
cooperation and exchanges between our two countries.
Ambassador noted Northwest Airlines request for a codeshare
flight and previewed possible USG and business delegation
visits. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Sporting the traditional djebba in honor of
Tunisia's March 16 "National Traditional Dress Day", Minister
of Tourism Tijani Haddad told Ambassador he hopes to see
greater numbers of American tourists in Tunisia. Haddad
noted that in 2006 there were 16,000 American visitors,
representing an increase over previous years, but nowhere
near the numbers he would like to see. Ambassador raised
Northwest Airlines' request for a codeshare flight with Air
France and noted that this could pave the way for direct
flights in the future. Haddad was enthusiastic about the
possibility of direct flights, which would increase the
desirability of Tunisia as a tourist destination for
Americans, and offered to weigh in positively on the
codeshare request. (NOTE: Following the meeting, Ambassador
sent Minister Haddad details about the Northwest Airlines
request and asked for Haddad's support. END NOTE.)
3. (SBU) Shifting to strategy, Haddad outlined the GOT desire
to move the sector towards high-end and niche tourism. He
noted that currently the market is geared toward "sun and
sea" tourism, which limits the tourist season. He
highlighted recent efforts to promote tourism to
archeological sites and the Sahara as well as making Tunisia
a destination for golfing and thelassotherapy spa treatments.
In addition to the lack of direct air linkages, Haddad noted
that Americans' lack of awareness about Tunisia serves as a
secondary impediment to increasing tourism from the United
States. To that end, the Ministry has prepared an
advertising campaign that will air on CNN within the next
month. Haddad was eager to enlist the involvement of the
Embassy in increasing the number of American tourists and the
level of US investment in tourism. He responded
enthusiastically when Ambassador raised the proposed April
USG economic delegation visit and the possibility of a future
private sector business delegation.
4. (SBU) Haddad lamented the decline in cultural cooperation
between Tunisia and the United States and remembered a time
when the American Cultural Center had weekly showings of
American films. Haddad, a fluent English speaker, fondly
reminisced about his previous travels in the United States
and his own participation in an exchange program. He was
particularly enthusiastic when describing the previous visits
to Tunisia by Neil Armstrong and Senator Ted Kennedy. "We
have to go back to that" level of engagement, Haddad
asserted, because "misunderstanding is the worst thing that
can happen." He hoped that linkages between US and Tunisian
universities would increase and that US universities might
consider locating in Tunisia. Ambassador stressed that the
Embassy was actively working to increase cooperation,
including on cultural activities.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: With this meeting, Minister Haddad joins
the growing list of GOT ministers who have strongly advocated
an increase in exchange programs and a desire for greater US
investment. The tourism sector, one of the engines for the
Tunisian economy, continues to perform well but has grown
modestly in recent years -- posting only 2.7 percent growth
in 2006. While increasing the number of US tourists would
represent a boon to the tourist sector, Minister Haddad's
enthusiasm for cultural cooperation and exchange indicate
that he views tourism not only in economic terms, but also as
a means to promote mutual understanding. END COMMENT.
GODEC
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS),INFO NEA/PPD
STATE PASS USTR (BELL),USPTO (ADLIN AND ADAMS),USAID
(MCCLOUD)
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATHAN MASON),ADVOCACY CTR (JAMES),
AND CLDP (TEJTEL)
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ)
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD OEXC EAIR KPAO TS
SUBJECT: FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM, TOURISM MORE THAN JUST
MONEY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During Ambassador's March 16 courtesy call,
Minister of Tourism Tijani Haddad expressed great enthusiasm
for increasing American tourism to Tunisia and made an
impassioned plea for increasing the level of cultural
cooperation and exchanges between our two countries.
Ambassador noted Northwest Airlines request for a codeshare
flight and previewed possible USG and business delegation
visits. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Sporting the traditional djebba in honor of
Tunisia's March 16 "National Traditional Dress Day", Minister
of Tourism Tijani Haddad told Ambassador he hopes to see
greater numbers of American tourists in Tunisia. Haddad
noted that in 2006 there were 16,000 American visitors,
representing an increase over previous years, but nowhere
near the numbers he would like to see. Ambassador raised
Northwest Airlines' request for a codeshare flight with Air
France and noted that this could pave the way for direct
flights in the future. Haddad was enthusiastic about the
possibility of direct flights, which would increase the
desirability of Tunisia as a tourist destination for
Americans, and offered to weigh in positively on the
codeshare request. (NOTE: Following the meeting, Ambassador
sent Minister Haddad details about the Northwest Airlines
request and asked for Haddad's support. END NOTE.)
3. (SBU) Shifting to strategy, Haddad outlined the GOT desire
to move the sector towards high-end and niche tourism. He
noted that currently the market is geared toward "sun and
sea" tourism, which limits the tourist season. He
highlighted recent efforts to promote tourism to
archeological sites and the Sahara as well as making Tunisia
a destination for golfing and thelassotherapy spa treatments.
In addition to the lack of direct air linkages, Haddad noted
that Americans' lack of awareness about Tunisia serves as a
secondary impediment to increasing tourism from the United
States. To that end, the Ministry has prepared an
advertising campaign that will air on CNN within the next
month. Haddad was eager to enlist the involvement of the
Embassy in increasing the number of American tourists and the
level of US investment in tourism. He responded
enthusiastically when Ambassador raised the proposed April
USG economic delegation visit and the possibility of a future
private sector business delegation.
4. (SBU) Haddad lamented the decline in cultural cooperation
between Tunisia and the United States and remembered a time
when the American Cultural Center had weekly showings of
American films. Haddad, a fluent English speaker, fondly
reminisced about his previous travels in the United States
and his own participation in an exchange program. He was
particularly enthusiastic when describing the previous visits
to Tunisia by Neil Armstrong and Senator Ted Kennedy. "We
have to go back to that" level of engagement, Haddad
asserted, because "misunderstanding is the worst thing that
can happen." He hoped that linkages between US and Tunisian
universities would increase and that US universities might
consider locating in Tunisia. Ambassador stressed that the
Embassy was actively working to increase cooperation,
including on cultural activities.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: With this meeting, Minister Haddad joins
the growing list of GOT ministers who have strongly advocated
an increase in exchange programs and a desire for greater US
investment. The tourism sector, one of the engines for the
Tunisian economy, continues to perform well but has grown
modestly in recent years -- posting only 2.7 percent growth
in 2006. While increasing the number of US tourists would
represent a boon to the tourist sector, Minister Haddad's
enthusiasm for cultural cooperation and exchange indicate
that he views tourism not only in economic terms, but also as
a means to promote mutual understanding. END COMMENT.
GODEC