TUNISA: Air Traffic, Rail And Bus Brought To A Halt By Strike

A nationwide public sector strike in Tunis on Thursday brought rail, bus and air traffic to a standstill, and hit ports, schools and hospitals.

The strike organised by the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) is the biggest since the assassination of opposition politician Chokri Belaid in February 2013.

All flights in and out of the North African country's main airport were cancelled and check-in counters closed. Other public services, including ports, public transport, and hospitals were also disrupted.

The core demands of the 2011 revolution were employment, the betterment of the Tunisian economy and an end to corruption. However, none of these demands have been met. This is why today we are here, Lassad Hamdi, one of the protesters said.

The UGTT, which boasts more than half a million members, about 5 per cent of Tunisia’s total population, and a branch in every province, has been engaged in a months long stand off with the Tunisian government over the need to increase pay in the public sector.

International lenders, including the International Monetary Fund, have urged Tunis to undertake a series of brisk public sector reforms, including the freezing of wages and the sale of state-owned companies, to reduce the country’s budget deficit.

The union and the government have engaged in negotiations in an attempt to reach a solution but so far no compromise has been reached.

The government have chosen the confrontation with the public servants and we are ready, UGTT leader Nourredine Taboubi told thousands of people gathered in front of UGTT headquarters on Thursday.

We will study on Saturday the next steps and we will step up our action and will not back down, he added without giving details on a possible escalation.

He accused the government of being afraid to move a little finger without the green light of the IMF.

Thousands of people gathered at the national union headquarters in Tunis and marched through the capital's main thoroughfare, carrying signs reading "Get Out!" and "The People Want the Fall of the Regime."

Rallies were also held in other cities, including Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the 2011 revolution, Gafsa, Jendouba and Sfax.

A public servant said that she is taking part in demonstrations to denounce the high cost of living.

A regional coordinator with the secular left-wing Popular Front coalition slammed the government’s inability to solve the crisis.

The current government has no plans, either economically, culturally or politically. As a government of regressive parties... It doesn't have any new ideas, he said.

Police surrounded the protest site but did not clash with demonstrators.

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed warned that the strike would result in a considerable cost to an already fragile economy and might push the government to seek further foreign loans with tough conditions.

Speaking on public television Wataniya 1 on Wednesday night, Mr Chahed said: We did everything possible to avoid the strike in presenting proposals that improve purchasing power while at the same time taking into account the country's capabilities.

He invited the unions back to the negotiating table after Thursday's strike.


Tourism Observer

SPAIN: Global Tourist Numbers Up In First Half - UN

The number of international tourists rose by 4.0% worldwide during the first half of 2015 although security and health concerns hit hard some African destinations, the UN World Tourism Organisation said Thursday.

Some 538 million tourists made trips to international destinations between January and June 2015 - 21 million more compared with the same period last year, the Madrid-based body said in a statement.

"These results show that, despite increased volatility, tourism continues to consolidate the positive performance it has had over the last five years and to provide development and economic opportunities worldwide," said the organization's head Taleb Rifai.

Global tourism figures were hard hit by the global financial crisis, declining 4.0% in 2009 as an outbreak of swine flu also contributed to cash-strapped people staying at home but have risen in each year since.

Asia, the Middle East and Europe, the world's most visited region, all saw a 5% increase in arrivals, with the Americas posting growth of 4.0%.

But Africa saw a drop of 6.0%.

North Africa, which was shaken by terrorist attacks in Tunisia, a popular lower-cost beach holiday spot for Europeans, saw arrivals fall by 10% while sub-Saharan Africa had a decline of 4.0%.

"Alongside the impacts of the terrorist attacks, African destinations have been impacted by the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak in a few West African countries and the slower growth of regional economies depending on the export of oil and other commodities," the tourism body said.

Tunisia's tourism industry, which had been recovering after the Arab Spring unrest, was badly shaken in March by an attack on the Bardo museum in Tunis, followed by one in June in the resort of Sousse, that killed a total of 59 tourists.

The UN World Tourism Organization predicts international tourism arrivals will increase by 3.0% to 4.0% during all of 2015, after expanding by 4.7% last year.