Now that Tunisia's scurrilous dictator Ben Ali has fled the country and the transition to a new political order is underway, I have begun to wonder what effect the recent events may have on the country's tourism industry. During my 22 years in the travel business, I have too often observed political upheaval devastate interest in a country long after any real or perceived danger is gone; I have seen it happen countless times, and concern that it might happen now in Tunisia has inspired me to write this, my first blog entry for the Huffington Post.
Though Tunisia has certainly become more familiar to many in recent weeks, I worry that the stories of self-immolation and potent images of protesters taking to the streets will frighten travelers away from visiting this magical country. That would truly be a shame, because Tunisia is a jewel of a destination: rich in cultural offerings with a progressive social attitude that warmly welcomes visitors.
My first visit to Tunisia was several years ago and I was immediately enchanted. It was no surprise to learn that George Lucas filmed some of the most memorable scenes from Star Wars in Tunisia: its desert landscape is indeed alien and has a stark, evocative beauty. In Carthage, the fact that I was nearly alone to roam the ancient ruins made it that much easier to imagine Phoenicians and Romans walking the very same paths. In Sidi Bou Said, I got lost on winding cobblestone streets and admired the whitewashed buildings, sweeping sea views, and clouds of pink flowers that seemed to adorn every window. I hunted for antiques in Tunis and drank tea with a shop owner on his rooftop, watching the sun set on the medina beneath us. Upon my return to New York, I became an enthusiastic booster of Tunisia and was thrilled that travelers we sent there invariably came home sharing my excitement.
Now, in the wake of the Tunisian protests, what we need to remember is that this was a positive series of events that we should feel heartened by: citizens refusing to any longer accept a corrupt government and successfully protesting the injustice to bring about change. I hope that Tunisia's new prominence on travelers' radars lasts longer than the metaphorical 15 minutes -- that some adventurous people will be inspired to visit Tunisia themselves and, by doing so, learn more about the culture, landscape, and history of this wonderful country than Wikipedia can ever possibly convey.