The Mediterranean region is at the forefront of discussions on environmental preservation and combating plastic pollution. The recent Forum de la mer de Bizerte, held on September 24-25, 2026, brought together stakeholders from the tourism sector to explore ways to balance economic growth, valorize maritime resources, and preserve the environment. The goal is to establish a balance between exploiting maritime resources and protecting ecosystems.
Dora Milad, President of the Tunisian Hospitality Federation (FTH), emphasized the sector's commitment to sustainable tourism during an interview on the sidelines of the forum. According to her, the hospitality industry has been engaged in ecological transition for nearly a decade, particularly through the commission dedicated to sustainable tourism. Milad stressed that the sector must assume its economic and social role in promoting eco-friendly practices.
As part of this effort, a waste collection and sorting center is set to open in Hammam-Sousse, realized through a public-private partnership between the municipality, the International Center for Environmental Technologies of Tunis (CITET), and the FTH. This project is part of the Tumali initiative, which brings together Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. The center will benefit from a €330,000 investment to finance collection and sorting equipment.
Milad also mentioned the use of a robot designed to clean the waters of the El-Kantaoui port, financed by the German Ministry of Environment. She considers this initiative a concrete action that deserves to be extended to other sites. The FTH president called for increased cooperation and philanthropic initiatives, pending greater mobilization of public investments.
Furthermore, Milad advocated for the revival and upgrading of the Tunisian eco-label, created in 2010-2011 by CITET and the National Institute of Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI). The update should integrate new criteria related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Promoting this label would help hotels in their ecological transition and bring them closer to international certifications.
Several hotels already practice waste sorting to meet the expectations of a clientele increasingly sensitive to sustainable development issues. However, these efforts are often hindered by inadequate waste management. The Hammam-Sousse project aims to structure the collection and sorting of hotel waste, ensuring a complete chain from collection to recycling and valorization.
Key points
- The Tunisian hospitality sector is committed to ecological transition through initiatives such as waste collection and sorting centers and eco-label promotion.
- The sector aims to balance economic growth with environmental preservation and promote sustainable tourism practices.
- The success of these initiatives depends on the mobilization of public investments and the involvement of various stakeholders.
