Inauguration ceremony of the China Representative Office for the Tunisian National Tourist Office (COURTESY OF THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE FOR TNTO)

Sidi Bou Said, a town in north Tunisia, is well known for the extensive use of blue and white colors all over the town (COURTESY OF THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE FOR TNTO)

Tunisia's Amphitheatre of El Jem: UNESCO World Heritage Site (COURTESY OF THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE FOR TNTO)

Slim Tlatli, Tunisia's Minister of Tourism, formally inaugurated the China Representative Office for the Tunisian National Tourist Office (TNTO) on June 1 in Beijing. This event was part of the activities during the Tunisian Tourism Week between June 1 and 6.

"The establishment of the China office is to provide easy access and a platform for Chinese to learn more about Tunisia, its unique culture and rich tourism resources," Tlatli said at the inauguration ceremony. The hope is that through these efforts, more Chinese travelers will visit Tunisia.

Several meetings have been and will be held in Beijing and Shanghai between Tunisian tourism officials and their Chinese counterparts. Tlatli voiced his hope that this cooperation will provide tourists more traveling routes and destinations and attract more Chinese travelers to Tunisia.

Known as "the Jewel of the Mediterranean," Tunisia, the northernmost country on the African continent, has superb beaches, spectacular desert scenery and a wealth of historical sites dating back nearly 3,000 years.

"It's very agreeable for tourists. They can enjoy [Tunisia's] natural beauty, ancient cities and the warm friendliness of its people," commented Hnid Walid, sales manager at Tunisian Happy Days Travel Agency.

TNTO has identified China as a major potential source of tourists, as the number of Chinese visitors to Tunisia is increasing. Despite the global economic crisis, statistics reveal an increase of 27.7 percent in Chinese tourists traveling to Tunisia, and a 17.6 percent increase in their length of stay.

As part of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo, Tunisia is hosting a tourism week inside the African pavilion to promote its tourism products in the Chinese market.

The Tunisian delegation led by the minister included several professionals and travel agents. Mohamed Sahbi Basly, the country's ambassador to China, and Counsellor Mohamed Hedi Soltani also attended the ceremony.