Tui to extend Tunisia for 2019 after steady return

Tui is to increase its Tunisia offering for summer 2019 after a steady start since it put the destination back on sale.

Holidays to the north African country went back on sale in January, and flights resume in May for the first time since 38 Tui customers, including 30 Britons, were killed in a terrorist attack at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the resort of Sousse in June 2015.

It will start with a small programme featuring three hotels in Hammamet and flights from four UK airports.

Thomas Cook was the first major UK operator to return since the government lifted its advice against all but essential travel to most parts of the country in July last year. Its flights resumed in February.

Richard Sofer, Tui’s UK and Ireland commercial director, said it was “too early to tell” exactly how large the summer 2019 programme in Tunisia would be.

But speaking to Travel Weekly ahead of the launch of Tui’s summer 2019 programme, he said: “There will be increases across the whole of the programme.

“We are looking to make some small increases in the area,” he added. “I expect there will be a relatively small increase [in Tunisia], but not as significant an increase as in other areas. Tunisia won’t be a significant part of our summer 2019 programme.”

He said sales for summer 2018 had so far been “in line with expectations” and that increases in capacity would be “measured” in response to demand.

More: Tui to extend long-haul regional flying to Yorkshire in 2019

Tui says Turkey on track to return to pre-2015 capacity

Tui regional flying programme ‘not prompted by success of Jet2holidays’