A delegation of 21 Tunisian tour operators recently undertook a familiarization trip to the southeastern region of Turkey, an initiative aimed at strengthening tourism ties between Tunisia and Turkey and encouraging Tunisian travel agencies to promote Turkish destinations to their clients.
The southeastern region of Turkey, which includes historically and culturally rich provinces such as Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Mardin, has been increasingly promoted as a tourism destination in recent years. The area is known for its ancient heritage sites, traditional cuisine, and proximity to landmarks such as Göbeklitepe, one of the world's oldest known temple complexes.
Familiarization trips, commonly known in the industry as "fam trips," are a standard tool used by national tourism boards and regional authorities to introduce travel professionals to destinations firsthand, enabling them to better market and sell those destinations to end travelers. Turkey's tourism authorities have been actively organizing such trips for travel trade partners from North Africa and the broader Arab world.
Tunisia and Turkey maintain active bilateral relations, and tourism has been a growing component of their economic ties. Turkish destinations have attracted increasing numbers of Tunisian visitors in recent years, while Tunisia itself remains a popular destination for Turkish tourists. Initiatives such as this fam trip are designed to further deepen that exchange.
