Tunisia's Taxation On Algerians Brings Foreign and Tourism Ministers To Parliament

MPs prepared a detailed report on the taxation that is imposed by the Tunisian authorities since weeks ago on the Algerian tourists, as the file went beyond the powers of Tourism and Transportation Ministers, to reach the Foreign Ministry, which is asked by the MP, Lakhdar Benkhellaf , to intervene either by obliging Tunisians to abolish these fees, which are 11 Euros, equivalent of 2100 dinars, or adopt reciprocity.

MP for the Front of Justice and Development, Lakhdar Benkhellaf, asked the Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, to intervene rapidly to put an end to the blackmail practices against Algerians in the border between Tunisia and Algeria, in El Tarf and Tebessa provinces, which has led many Algerians to protest in front of the Algerian-Tunisian border in Rass El Oyoun in Tebessa, waiting for the intervention of the authorities to end the situation which they are facing for several years.

“Especially that it became an exhausting burden on citizens, especially those who work in Tunisia as a result of the weight of the financial penalties which they pay to pass their cars each time”.

Benkhellaf asked, in the written question that was addressed to the Foreign and Tourism Ministers, for the need for reciprocity if the Tunisian authorities will continue to impose taxes on the Algerians, saying: “Tunisian tourist receives all the facilities while entering the Algerian territory, as he/she visited it without any restrictions or obstacles, while the Algerian tourist who crosses the border of Tebessa and Taref faces a real blackmail from the Tunisian side, which forced him/her  to pay 30 Tunisian Dinars, equivalent of 11 Euros or 2100 ZDZ each time he/she enters the Tunisian territory with the car, and even if he/she works on the line Tunisia-Annaba (eastern Algeria)”.

“Algerians were waiting for special treatment from the Tunisians, however, it was the opposite, they were surprised of the treatment without other foreign tourists, through discriminatory measures that are imposed on them, adding: “Algerians rescued Tunisian tourism at a time when the latter suffered as a result of terrorism, which struck the Tunisian economy, as tourism is the only source of money, but Algerians were surprised with the taxes that were imposed on them without other foreigners”.