Tunisia: tours in desert areas to be limited

The Tunisian Defence Ministry has announced it will limit the access of tourists in the Sahara desert in the South for security reasons. The measure, which concerns the local governments of Tataouine, Kébili and Tozeur, implements legislation adopted in 2008 to stop illegal immigrants from entering Tunisia. Under the law, whose application will be supervised by the Defence, Interior and Tourism Ministries, groups of tourists travelling in the area will be accompanied by authorised guides and members of the armed forces. The decision to fully implement the law was taken after the recorded presence in tourist destinations in the South of armed militants whom authorities fear might be plotting terrorist attacks against foreigners. (ANSAmed).