Tunisia Basics |
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Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round European-style, two-pin plugs are used.
Money: The unit of currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into 1,000 millimes. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. Banks and some hotels provide foreign exchange. ATMs are found in most towns and at all the tourist resorts; almost all will accept Visa cards and many will also accept Maestro (Switch) cards. Visa, Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard are accepted for payment in souvenir shops, upmarket hotels and restaurants, although Visa encounters the least problems. All Tunisian currency must be exchanged before departure.
Currency Exchange Rates |
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| TND1.00 = | US$ 0.74 | £ 0.50 | C$ 0.91 | A$ 1.15 | R 7.69 | € 0.59 | NZ$ 1.32 |
Language: The overwhelming majority speak Arabic and French. English is taught in all schools and is increasingly spoken especially by younger people. Some German and Italian is also spoken.
Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals require a passport valid until their departure from Tunisia, and may stay for up to four months without a visa.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK passport holders, irrespective of national status, may enter Tunisia with a passport valid for at least the period of stay and stay for up to three months without a visa.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay, but no visa is needed for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport valid at least for the duration of stay, and a visa to enter Tunisia. A visa may be obtained on arrival, allowing for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African citizens need a passport, valid at least until the end of their stay, and a visa. A visa may be bought on arrival and allows for a stay of up to 30 days.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a visa and a passport valid for the period of intended stay.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.
Passport/Visa Note: All visitors must hold documents and tickets for return or onward travel. Visas for Australians and South Africans can be obtained on arrival, incurring a fee of 3 dinars. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months before travelling to Tunisia.
Health: No vaccinations are recommended for Tunisia and no serious health risks exist, but all travellers are required to show a yellow fever certificate if coming from an infected area. Travellers' diarrhoea and other parasitic infections may be contracted, but is unlikely in the modern seaside resorts. Visitors travelling outside these resorts should ensure they drink only boiled, purified water and eat well-cooked food. All medical expenses must be paid for immediately after treatment in Tunisia, and costs can be quite high. The availability of medication is limited. Visitors should bring adequate supplies of their own medication. Health insurance is a necessity.
Tipping: Tipping is not a requirement but appreciated for good service in local establishments. Most people performing a useful service will wait to be tipped. Waiters in resort and hotel restaurants expect a tip of around 10%.
Safety: Tourist areas in Tunisia are regarded as being at risk of being targeted by international terrorism, but there have been no incidents since a car bomb attack on the offshore island of Djerba in 2002. Visitors should be vigilant and keep a check on official travel advice. There is little violent crime, but petty theft and pick pocketing does occur. An increase in bag snatching has been noted in tourist areas and visitors are advised to keep bags close at all times. Travellers are advised to avoid the border areas with Algeria, and be extra cautious if travelling alone in the southern desert areas.
Customs: Tunisia is a Muslim country and visitors should respect the local sensibilities, especially during the month of Ramadan. Visitors, and women in particular, should dress modestly outside of the beach resorts. Homosexuality is illegal. Only married couples are allowed to share rooms.
Business: Tunisians like to get to know the person with whom they will be doing business and negotiations tend to be prolonged and very sociable occasions. As with other Arab countries, one is expected to dress conservatively and formally in Tunisia. French is the common language of business and interpreters will be necessary otherwise. A firm handshake is the accepted form of greeting and the Arabic 'Salaam Aleikum' works better than a simple 'Hello.' Business hours are generally 8am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international dialling code for Tunisia is +216. The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (for example 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)1 for Tunis. The country is covered by two GSM 900 mobile networks. There is widespread Internet coverage with Internet cafes in the main cities and towns.
Duty Free: Travellers to Tunisia do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 400g tobacco; 1 bottle of alcohol; a reasonable amount of perfume; and gifts to the value of 10 Tunisian dinars.