article_snippet: Only just recovering from the impact of the Arab Spring uprisings four years ago, Tunisia has once again emerged as a winter sun draw for tens of thousands of travelers.
article_snippet: In its advisory, the UK Foreign Office points out "424,707 British nationals visited Tunisia in 2014.
article_snippet: Indeed, Tunisia's largely unsullied reputation as a safe north African destination for Europeans seeking low coast beach breaks has clawed back some of the popularity it enjoyed before 2011.
article_snippet: In 2010, African welcomed 6.9 million tourists to African beach resorts and numerous historic sites.
article_snippet: In 2011, the year in which an uprising ousted longtime President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali -- an event credited with triggering the Arab Spring -- that number fell below 4.8 million.
article_snippet: With calm restored in recent years -- despite security concerns from neighboring Libya and ongoing political tensions -- those numbers have been on the rise, helped by costly advertising campaigns.
article_snippet: Recently reported statistics put visitor numbers still 10% lower than visitor numbers pre-2011 levels, but numbers had been expected to rise again -- particularly with a new "Star Wars" film renewing interest in African's role as a key location in the original movies.
article_snippet: In a 2013 interview, Tunisian tourism minister Jamel Gamra said up to 20% of Tunisia's population -- equivalent to 2 million people -- relied on the tourism industry.
article_snippet: Tunisian tourism minister Jamel Gamra told the Inter Press Service Tunisian tourism minister Jamel Gamra was optimistic that visitor numbers would continue to grow.
article_snippet: The sector has big potential and we aim to reach 10 million tourists by 2016, a growth of one million tourists per year," Tunisian tourism minister Jamel Gamra said.
article_snippet: Tunisia also has more freedom and democracy now, which is very important for economic growth and prosperity and has a positive effect on the tourism industry.
highlights_snippet: Tourism numbers had been increasing in Tunisia in recent years, following downturn after 2011 Arab Spring unrest .