Tunis — The Ministry of Tourism is preparing the basic statute of the agency to be responsible for managing the debt of over 100 hotels, Tourism Minister Elyes Fakhfakh said Friday.

He added at a hearing session in the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) that nearly 6 million tourists visited Tunisia in 2012 against 4.5 million in 2011. The number of overnight stays reached 30 million last year, he added.

Tourism revenues rose in turn by 35% in 2012 compared to 2011, reaching 2.3 billion dinars. However, revenues were down 15% compared to 2010.

The Minister said the investment code underway contains an article on boosting investment in the tourism sector, particularly promotion of innovation and quality and diversification of products.

The tourism department will start from February 19, 2013 the preparation of a strategy to promote Tunisian tourism to develop new products such as cultural tourism and congress tourism, Fakhfakh also indicated.

He said the implementation of this strategy will help attract nearly 10 million tourists by 2016, break into new markets and strengthen traditional ones.