On the beaches of Hammamet, the parasols have regained their colors and the terraces their cheerful buzz. Behind this summer scene, good news is confirmed in the numbers: the resort area of Nabeul-Hammamet is off to a strong start for the 2026 high season.
Since the start of the year and through 10 July, the destination has welcomed 413,000 tourists, a rise of 10% compared to the same period in 2025, for a total of 1.6 million overnight stays (+2.5%). Indicators are "in the green," and according to Wahid Ben Fradj, regional tourism commissioner in Nabeul, they suggest "a promising and exceptional tourist season." A look at a summer that is putting the smile back on one of the country's flagship seaside resorts.
Figures confirming the recovery
Data shared with the TAP news agency draws a clearly upward curve. Between 1 June and 10 July, the region received 122,000 visitors, up 9.5% year-on-year, generating 512,000 overnight stays. The first ten days of July sharpened the trend further: 46,000 arrivals from 1 to 10 July, a 12% jump year-on-year.
These figures deserve to be read together. The cumulative tally since January (413,000 tourists, +10%) confirms an underlying trend in place since the start of the year. And the pace is picking up as summer begins: with +12% over the first ten days of July, the acceleration even outstrips the annual average. The destination isn't catching up on lost ground: it's building on momentum already under way.
In other words, the season isn't merely off to a good start: it's accelerating. This strong start to the high season, visible from the very first weeks of summer, is precisely what's fueling optimism for what comes next: the regional commissioner sees it as a sign of an equally promising late season.
413,000 tourists since January, 1.6 million overnight stays: Nabeul-Hammamet opens summer 2026 on the rise across every indicator.
The return of European markets
Good news for the local ecosystem: the traditional major source markets are coming back. According to the regional commissioner, French and British visitors stand out with a spectacular rise of 40% compared to last season. Italian, Polish, and German traveler numbers are also showing an encouraging trend.
One detail is worth highlighting, as it says a great deal about the evolution of Tunisian tourism: the domestic market retains its lead at the top of arrivals. Tunisians are flocking to their own coastline, and this local clientele now forms a solid base, less exposed to geopolitical uncertainty than distant markets.
A balance between local and foreign visitors
The strength of this start to the season also lies in its composition. On one hand, the major foreign markets are returning; on the other, Tunisian visitors remain in first place. This dual foundation makes the destination less dependent on a single market and more resilient to the swings of a shifting international climate — a lesson the resort has learned season after season, one that embodies, like other coastal jewels, the Tunisian art of living between sea and tradition.
Regional authorities are also stressing the quality of hospitality: the strategy driven by the supervising ministry and the Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT) focuses on service standards and strict compliance with hygiene rules. The regional commissioner is calling on all industry players to mobilize and work together to guarantee top-level service — the demand that alone turns a rise in visitor numbers into a lasting reputation.
