Belgian relaxes travel curbs

TUNIS, TUNISIA Tunis welcomed Wednesday a move by Belgium to partially lift travel curbs on its nationals put in place following a deadly attack on a Tunisian beach resort in 2015.

“I welcome… Belgium’s decision to lift part of the restrictions on travel to Tunisia,” Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui told reporters after meeting with his Belgian counterpart Didier Reynders in Tunis.

“It think this is an important decision as it recognises Tunisian efforts concerning security.”

Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui (R) greets his Belgian counterpart, Didier Reynders, during an official visit in the capital Tunis on 1 March, 2017.

Reynders said the decision was not just a “gesture” but that it reflected “changes on the security front” in Tunisia.

“The changes we have made to our travel advice clearly comes from progress made on the ground,” he added.

Belgium placed restrictions on travel to Tunisia following a gun and grenade attack in June 2015 at the Tunisian beach resort of Sousse that killed 38 foreign holidaymakers.

Last month, Brussels relaxed curbs on nationals travelling to Tunis and the coastal region in the north, but advised against visits near the border with Algeria and to southern areas.

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