Why Tunisia is making a comeback

With beautiful beaches, a sunny climate and cheap prices, Tunisia is winning tourists back.

KARIM had the best chat up line in fake Longchamp foldaway travel bags this side of the Champs Elysees (with a detour en route to China) praising their “good stitching, strong straps and zips”, plus “authentic colours” while we haggled on the cobbled laneways of Sidi Bou Said.

Lauded as Tunisia’s most beautiful village the brochures neglect to mention ‘Tourist Trap’ when describing its maze of whitewashed buildings and bright blue doors, overhung with dazzling pink and purple bougainvillea on steep narrow streets that ooze charm. Caught in the grip of a bag that looked just like the ‘real thing’ modelled by a handsome sloe-eyed stall holder who claimed that haggling was so OUF (out of fashion) one could only admire his attitude and buy.