This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Terrorism (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Tunisia because of the risk of terrorist attack. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

Recent credible reports indicate that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets in Tunisia. Attacks could occur at any time and may be directed against locations such as places frequented by tourists, oil facilities and infrastructure and identifiably Western and Jewish businesses and interests.

We assess terrorists may be continuing active planning of attacks in North Africa, including Tunisia. The December 2007 and June 2008 attacks by Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Magreb (AQIM) in Algiers (Algeria), the 3 November 2007 announcement of the merger of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group with Al-Qa'ida, the cancellation of the 2008 Dakar Rally and increasing jihadist calls to abduct foreigners and conduct more attacks, all point to a surge in terrorist activity and a growing threat environment in the region for targets frequented by foreigners or government officials.

During police raids and gun battles with a terrorist group south of Tunis in December 2006 and January 2007, Tunisian police killed a number of people and captured others. The recent sentencing of those arrested could prompt a reaction from their supporters, such as demonstrations or acts of violence. Following the kidnapping of two tourists in late February 2008, AQIM publicly threatened to attack Westerners visiting Tunisia.

On 11 April 2002, terrorists bombed the front of the ancient Ghriba synagogue, killing 14 German tourists, six Tunisians, and one Frenchman. More than 30 others were wounded.

In planning your activities, therefore consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets. These include government facilities and commercial areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as, but not limited to, residential areas, hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, market places, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas.

Border with Algeria: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to areas bordering Algeria because of the risk of kidnapping. In late February 2008, two tourists were kidnapped in the south of Tunisia, close to the border. If you are travelling independently, we recommend that you do not cross the border with Algeria. Ask yourself whether, given your own personal circumstances, you're comfortable travelling to these areas knowing that you could be caught up in a kidnapping attempt. Ask yourself whether travel could be deferred or an alternative destination chosen. If, having considered these issues, you do decide to travel to this part of Tunisia, you should exercise extreme caution.

Crime

Petty crime, such as pick pocketing and bag snatching, occurs in urban areas, particularly in markets.

Theft from vehicles is common.

Local Travel

Driving in Tunisia can be hazardous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles, local driving practices and inadequate road lighting.

If you intend to travel into the Sahara, it is a requirement to inform the National Guard Post at Medenine, located 450 kilometers south of Tunis, prior to travel. Use of an experienced guide may reduce the risks associated with travel in the Sahara.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Tunisia is in an active seismic zone. Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Dust and sand storms occur frequently in Tunisia.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Wildlife Watching

Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Banks may refuse to cash travellers' cheques unless accompanied by their proof of purchase.

Foreign exchange transactions must take place at authorised banks only.

You should declare all foreign currency upon arrival in Tunisia and retain the declaration receipt for departure. Tourists are expected to make foreign exchange transactions at authorised banks or dealers and to retain receipts for dinars obtained. Prior to departure from Tunisia, a maximum of 3,000 Tunisian dinars may be converted back into foreign currency, but documentation proving the purchase should be kept for customs declarations. Tunisian law prohibits the import and export of Tunisian dinars.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering and theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Tunisia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs, including "soft" drugs, include mandatory imprisonment.

Penalties for some offences, such as murder and rape, include the death penalty.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Tunisia and are punishable by three years imprisonment.

Only married couples are permitted to cohabit in Tunisia.

It is illegal to attempt to convert Muslims to another religion in Tunisia.

Photography of, or near, government buildings, military establishments or other infrastructure is prohibited.

It is illegal to import and export Tunisian dinars.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Local customs

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Tunisia and you should take care not to offend. If you are visiting religious sites and remote areas of Tunisia you should avoid wearing short-sleeved garments or shorts. Open displays of affection between members of the opposite sex may cause offence. Women may be harassed, particularly if they are unaccompanied.

During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims.

Information for Dual Nationals

Australian/Tunisian dual nationals may be required to complete national service obligations if they visit Tunisia. For further information, contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Tunisia before you travel.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Tunisia for the most up to date information.

Health Issues

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Medical facilities in Tunisia are generally limited. Doctors and hospitals require up-front payment or a guarantee of payment from an insurance company prior to providing services, including for emergency care. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation (at considerable cost) to a destination with appropriate facilities may be required.

A decompression chamber is available at the Naval Base in Bizert in north-east Tunisia.

Insect-borne diseases (such as leishmaniasis and West Nile fever) are prevalent in Tunisia. Malaria is not a risk. We recommend that you take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including typhoid, hepatitis, rabies and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. While tap water is safe to drink in major cities, in rural areas we advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water. Avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Swimming in fresh water may expose you to parasitic diseases such as bilharzia. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

Where to Get Help

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Tunisia. By agreement between the Canadian and Australian governments, the local Canadian Embassy provides consular assistance to Australians in Tunisia. This service does not include the issue of Australian passports. The address is:

Canadian Embassy
3, rue du Senegal
Place d’Afrique
1002 Tunis-Belvedere
Tunisia
Telephone (216 71) 104 000
Facsimile (216 71) 104 191
Email tunis@international.gc.ca
Website www.tunis.gc.ca

You can also obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Egypt:

Australian Embassy
11th Floor
World Trade Centre
1191 Cornice el Nil
Boulac, Cairo
Egypt
Telephone (+20 2) 2575 0444
Facsimile (20 2) 2578 1638
Website www.egypt.embassy.gov.au

If you are travelling to Tunisia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency – whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.