(TAP) - Despite a 33% increase in tourist entries recorded from January 1st to March 10, 2017, the number of French tourists visiting Tunisia is not yet satisfactory, estimated Tunisian National Tourist Board (ONTT) Director in France Wahida Jaiet.

She said in a statement to TAP on the fringes of the 42nd edition of the World Tourism Fair (SMT), that "the booking ensured by the main tour operators marketing the Tunisian destination is about 49%.

For her, "these figures are hopeful, but nothing has been gained yet," pointing out that recovery will take time.

For his part, Mourad Kallal, a tourism professional, believes that "the recovery posted today is achieved at the level of individual tourists."

"We are absent in the group tourism market," he told TAP, raising the issue of "air transport, lack of means and increase in tariffs posted by Tunisair."

A dozen Tunisian tourism professionals representing the regions of Sousse, Zarziz-Djerba are taking part in this fair, presenting promotional tariffs on the destination outside the holiday periods.

The Tunisian stand has been laid out over 36 metres, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about tourist offers in Tunisia and the know-how of Tunisian craftsmen and artists in the fields of pottery and calligraphy.

A tasting of the Tunisian pastry was offered to visitors interested in the destination.

"We are trying to bring the message that Tunisia is a destination other than the seaside," Jaiet underlined, specifying that an action to promote the destination is ensured in the stand of the show "Arthur around the world," which is broadcast on the channel "gulli."

The World Tourism Fair organised March 16-19 in Paris, is an annual event bringing together more than 500 professionals from several countries of the world. More than 130 thousand visitors go to SMT to book their holidays, according to the fair's organisers.