Tozeur Expects Tourist Overnight Stays to Grow by Up to 30% in October

Preliminary indicators point to stronger accommodation demand as the winter tourism season begins, with desert and cultural events supporting visitor activity amid efforts to improve air connectivity.

Tourism authorities in Tunisia’s Tozeur Governorate expect the number of tourist overnight stays to increase by between 25% and 30% in October 2026 compared with the same month last year, signalling a recovery in tourism activity in southern Tunisia as the winter season begins and cultural and entertainment events return.

Adel Sbita, Regional Tourism Commissioner in Tozeur, said the destination had recorded improving tourism indicators since September, with stronger performance becoming more evident in October, supported by the return of events that form an important part of the region’s tourism offering.

The projections follow figures announced on October 27, indicating a 10% increase in overnight stays and a 15% rise in tourist arrivals during the period covered by the earlier data. However, the final results for October have yet to be released.

Throughout October, Tozeur hosted several cultural and recreational activities, including the Rouhaniyat Festival of Sufi Music in Nefta and a hot-air balloon event that featured Ong Jmal as one of its locations.

The balloon event included aerial and recreational activities, alongside musical performances on October 29 and 30 featuring artists from Tunisia and abroad, as part of efforts to promote desert tourism and diversify visitor experiences.

Tourism stakeholders are relying on these events to stimulate accommodation demand and strengthen the region’s appeal during the winter season, an important period for Tunisia’s desert and oasis destinations.

Improving accessibility to Tozeur remains essential to the destination’s tourism development, particularly for international markets and organised tours.

Flights connecting Paris with Tozeur–Nefta International Airport are particularly significant, providing direct access to southern Tunisia and potentially supporting travel packages offered by tour operators.

Regional tourism authorities are seeking to build on this connectivity by improving services and diversifying tourism products, with the aim of attracting visitors over longer periods throughout the year.

Despite the positive outlook, assessing the season’s economic impact will require final data on overnight stays, tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy rates and tourism revenues to determine how the recovery translates into measurable benefits for accommodation providers and tourism-related businesses.

- 25–30%: Expected growth in tourist overnight stays in October 2026.

- 10%: Previously reported increase in overnight stays, according to figures released on October 27.

- 15%: Increase in tourist arrivals reported in the earlier figures.

- October 29–30: Dates of the musical performances at Ong Jmal.

- September 2026: Start of the region’s winter tourism season.