Thursday, 3 February 2011

Holidays In Tunisia

By Mark Walters


It is no secret that places that become popular with tourists are popular because of trends. When famous celebrities are photographed soaking up the sun or sitting on a yacht in a particular area, that area immediately gains a massive leap in popularity and tourists flock to the latest fashionable holiday spot. The question is, why? Why do the celebrities go to that particular area? What is it about the area that draws people in to begin with?

There are many destinations that are always popular with tourists due to their ability to offer the best of one or two factors - the south of France, Spain, the Mediterranean islands and Switzerland's mountainous ski slopes to name but a few. However, some places are popular due to their ability to combine a number of factors, plus a certain mystical appeal. Tunisia is such a place, but what is it specifically about Tunisia that makes it so special?

Tunisia's official name is the Tunisian Republic and is situated on the northern-most tip of Africa. Algeria and Libya surround Tunisia to the west and south-east respectively. While the southern part of Tunisia is mainly comprised of the Sahara Desert, the land around the desert is extremely fertile which helps with growing crops. Tunisia is also able to provide tourists with a massive eight hundred and ten miles of coastline with which to enjoy their holiday in the sun.

As expected with such a huge coastline, Tunisia is famous for its beaches, of which the most popular are Hammamet and Port el-Kantaoui. Port el-Kantaoui was modeled on Port Grimaud, situated on the French Riviera. Also at the beach, tourists like to indulge themselves in scuba diving which is extremely popular for good reason in Tunisia. With spectacularly clear waters and some fantastic coral beds the two places to go are Port el-Kantaoui and Monastir.

Some of the highest grossing films of the 20th Century were filmed in Tunisia. Films such as Star Wars: A New Hope and The Phantom Menace (21st Century), Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The English Patient were all filmed in the canyons, caves and cities of Tunisia. In order to find the locations it may be best searching the internet for advice as it can be tricky. One place that is easy to find is the Star Wars Hotel, also called Sidi Driss which is located in Matmata. A small part of the film Star Wars: A New Hope was filmed in the courtyard for this hotel and some of the props are still present to this day.




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