TUNIS, 25 September 2014: Tunisia on Tuesday announced that from next month non-resident foreigners will have to pay a departure tax on leaving the country, in a move aimed at boosting the country’s coffers.
“The Tunisian government announces the creation of a departure tax for non-resident foreign travellers leaving Tunisian territory, coming into force 1 October,” the tourism ministry said on its Facebook page.
Those affected, mainly tourists, will have to pay a departure stamp to the value of 30 dinars (USD17, 13 euros).
Tunisians, with the exception of those living abroad, and foreigners with residence permits already pay 60 dinars each time they leave the country.
The new tax announced on Tuesday was included in a complementary finance law adopted this summer as part of measures aimed at helping to bail out the state.
The economy has been hard hit by the instability that followed the 2011 revolution that forced out long-time strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Gross domestic product growth slowed further in the second quarter of 2014, up just 2.0 % as against 2.8% in the same period of 2013, central bank figures show.
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