Tui is to double the number of hotels it offers in Sousse this winter as demand returns to the Tunisian resort where 30 of its clients died in a beach terror attack in 2015.
The company reintroduced Tunisia for summer 2018 but only put Sousse back on sale in July with three hotels. This will increase to six this winter: Marhaba Beach Hotel; Marhaba Salem Hotel; Royal Kenz Hotel; Sensimar Scheherazade; Tour Khalef; and The Pearl Resort and Spa.
Tui also revealed a threefold increase in capacity for Tunisia for summer 2019 compared with this summer, with the destination proving one of its strongest mid-haul performers for next year.
An extra 37,000 seats will be on sale for next summer, with flights out of Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Glasgow, Luton, Newcastle and Doncaster Sheffield. For winter 2019 there will be an additional 10,000 seats, with extra Gatwick and Manchester flights, a 50% increase on this winter.
Tui UK managing director Andrew Flintham said: “The interest in this popular year-round destination has resulted in an increased programme, with eight regional airports flying to Enfidha next summer and capacity increasing by 50% for winter 19.
“We will continue to follow Foreign Office advice for all destinations we operate to as well as referencing the FCO Travel Aware campaign across our website, customer documentation and in our stores and encourage everyone to check the FCO website regularly for the latest travel information.”
The destination is being tipped for a major resurgence next year as a tourist destination but an FCO warning that terrorists are “still very likely to carry out attacks in Tunisia” remains in place.
Rival Thomas Cook resumed sales of Tunisia holidays in February after the FCO relaxed its travel advice for the capital Tunis and main tourist resorts.
Meanwhile, a lawsuit was launched by British victims of the Sousse tragedy against Tui UK last month. It is believed this could take three years to reach a verdict.
More than 80 people, including families who lost loved ones and those left with injuries following the massacre at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse on June 26, 2015, have instructed personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to commence legal proceedings on their behalf as they seek damages from the tour operator.