Tunisia’s post-Arab Spring tourism recovery faces a fresh threat due to renewed political turmoil in the country.
The Foreign and Commonweelth Office, updating its travel advice yesterday, said “large angry public protests” throughout the country had been sparked by the assassination of an opposition political party leader in Tunis.
The shooting of Chokri Belaid sparked an outbreak of anger across Tunisia, with one police officer reportedly killed during clashes between police and opposition supporters in the capital.
“General strikes have been announced in several cities and towns throughout the country and more may be called at short notice,” the FCO said.
However, there are no travel restrictions to the North African country despite the first political assassination since the Arab Spring uprising of January 2011.
Tunisian prime minister Hamadi Jebali announced plans to form a government of “competent nationals without political affiliation” until fresh elections can be held “in the shortest possible time,” the BBC reported.
More than 218,000 Britons visited Tunisia in January to November 2011 and most visits are trouble free, the FCO said.