Thursday, February 3, 2011

Tunisia - One Of Africa's Best Holiday Destinations

By Mark Walters


Fashion trends seem to dictate popular tourist destinations to the point that as soon as a celebrity is spotted on a yacht or outside a nightclub in a particular area, it instantly becomes the next holiday destination for the masses. Though why are the celebrities there in the first place? What or who told them to go there for a holiday? Did they pick up the latest issue of OK magazine and see another celebrity there? Maybe it is down to the appeal that the area offers?

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.

Some might say that Tunisia's coastline is its best asset, but that opinion is subjective and although it offers some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean sea, there is a lot more to Tunisia than sand. If it is a good beach you are looking for, the most popular in Tunisia is Port el-Kantaoui, with Hammamet beach coming a close second. Port el-Kantaoui is a tourist complex that was actually first modeled on the French town of Port Grimaud.

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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