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Fueling growth through alternative tourism and creative industries
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29 May 2025 , Location: Mövenpick Gammarth,Tunis, Tunisia

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Building sustainable alliances across borders and sectors

About the event

Innovate Tunisia is a flagship conference organized under the umbrella of Leaders International, as part of the TANIT and ECF projects. The event is dedicated to advancing sustainable, inclusive tourism and celebrating Tunisia’s rich creative landscape.

This year’s edition will be preceded by two immersive days of cluster tours and face- to-face benchmarking visits, designed to connect Tunisian creative industry clusters with international clusters, companies from the MENA and North Africa region, and local civil society organizations. These visits will offer a hands-on opportunity to exchange experiences, explore collaborative opportunities, and share best practices in alternative tourism, design, and creative entrepreneurship.

The conference itself will bring together CSOs, creative clusters, ecosystem players, policymakers, and international partners to build bridges across sectors such as alternative tourism, crafts, ceramics, and design. With a focus on cultural identity, innovation, and local economic development, Innovate Tunisia will also mark the official launch of Tunisia’s national CSO network for alternative tourism, and serve as a platform for new partnerships, regional collaboration, and cross-border engagement.

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Create
Where hands and heart meet to shape the extraordinary.
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Explore
Every path leads to a hidden story in Tunisia’s soul.
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Preserve
Keeping ancient traditions alive for future generations.
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Imagine
Boundless creativity rooted in rich heritage.
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Thrive
Communities growing through culture and innovation.

What to expect

An in-depth look at how tourism and creative industries intersect to shape economies, identities, and opportunities with voices from Tunisia and across the MENA region driving the conversation.

  • Inspiring Speakers

    Entrepreneurs, artisans, policy shapers share how creativity and tourism can spark inclusive growth across the region.

  • Policy Dialogue

    Interactive dialogue tables where government, donors and CSOs co-design concrete, actionable policies for a sustainable creative-tourism ecosystem.

  • Strategic Networking

    Curated B2B meetings and relaxed lounges that turn introductions into lasting cross-border partnerships, investments, and cluster alliances

  • Civil Society at the Core

    Explore authentic, community-led experiences powered by grassroots organisations proving that alternative tourism starts with local voices and heritage.

  • Clusters Across the Region

    Engage with local and international creative industry clusters and contribute to cross-border collaboration across the Mediterranean.

Shaping
destinations 
through creativity

Connecting Cultures
Expanding Horizons

Live from Tunisia. Linked to the Region. Open to the World

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Innovative Tunisia

Tourism and Creative industries - Confernce Agenda

Day: 29th of May, 2025

8:30 - 9:00

Registration (collect your badges)

    9:00 - 9:30

    Welcoming Speeches

      Acting Chef de Cabinet

      Wajih Khelifa

      Acting Chef de Cabinet

      Ministry of Tourism and Handiscrafs

      Chief of Cooperation

      Tom Ashwanden

      Chief of Cooperation

      European Union - Tunisia

      General Director

      Shadi Atshan

      General Director

      Leaders International

    9:30 - 10:30

    Panel 1: Tourism & Creative Industries: Unlocking Synergies for Sustainable Growth

    This high-level panel explores how the tourism and creative industries can strategically intersect to create sustainable cultural, social, and economic value. Panelists will examine how creative content—from design and digital arts to crafts and performance—can enhance tourism experiences, while tourism opens markets and visibility for local creators. Through real-world examples, the discussion will focus on joint infrastructure, shared programming, and integrated policy frameworks that unlock growth and position Tunisia as a leader in creative tourism.

      Advisor to the Minister

      Wahida Jaiet

      Advisor to the Minister

      Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts

      General Director.

      Mehdi Haloui

      General Director.

      Tourism board – ONTT

      General Director

      Leïla Msellati

      General Director

      Handicrafts board - ONAT

      Communication & Development Project Expert

      Khadija Djellouli

      Communication & Development Project Expert

      UNIDO

      Lead Advisor – Tounes Wijhetouna Programme Support

      Serge Stagnoli

      Lead Advisor – Tounes Wijhetouna Programme Support

      European Union

      General Delegate

      Emmanuel Noutary

      General Delegate

      ANIMA Investment Network

    Moderator

      Country Manager - Tunisia

      Fatma Ben Nour

      Country Manager - Tunisia

      Leaders International

    10:30 - 11:00

    Project Presentations

    Spotlight on TANIT & Euromed Clusters Forward

      Projects Manager

      Dina Zabaneh

      Projects Manager

      Leaders International

      Country Manager - Tunisia

      Fatma Ben Nour

      Country Manager - Tunisia

      Leaders International

    11:00 - 11:30

    Coffee Break

      11:30 - 12:30

      Panel 2: Finding Value, Building Destinations — Challenges and Opportunities

      This session features a series of case studies and presentations showcasing how creative industries are transforming communities, driving innovation, and building destination identity. Speakers will share success stories from Tunisia and beyond, highlighting the power of design, digital culture, storytelling, and heritage preservation to shape economic futures. The session also emphasizes the role of Civil Society Organizations in nurturing local talent and connecting creative work to broader development goals.

        Ceramic Artisan & Innovator

        Montassar Sassi

        Ceramic Artisan & Innovator

        Handmade Craft Group

        Chairman and CEO

        Adly Thoma

        Chairman and CEO

        Gemini Africa - Egypt

        Private Sector Development Expert

        Mahmoud Abu Amireh

        Private Sector Development Expert

        Leather and Shoe Cluster Palestine

        Interior Architect & Design Researcher

        Walaa Brini

        Interior Architect & Design Researcher

        Althiburos Immagination el Kef

        Director of the School of Fashion

        Eric Ritter

        Director of the School of Fashion

        Académie Libanaise ses Beaux-Arts - Alba Université de Balamand

        Managing Partner

        Hassine Labaied

        Managing Partner

        SKILA

      12:30 - 13:30

      Panel 3: Breaking Barriers — Women Shaping the Future of Creative Industries & Tourism

      This inspiring panel highlights the leadership and innovation of women across Tunisia's creative and tourism sectors. From fashion and digital media to cultural preservation and entrepreneurship, panelists will share personal stories and professional insights on navigating challenges and building inclusive, impactful businesses. The conversation will explore how women are driving change, what barriers remain, and how cross-sector collaboration can support a more equitable and thriving creative economy.

        Founder

        Rym Belajouza Ben Fadhel

        Founder

        EIGHT Hospitality Business School

        Ceramic Artisan & Designer

        Nour Kamar Jamil

        Ceramic Artisan & Designer

        Belle Lune

        Creative and Cultural Impact Lead

        Emna Jbeli

        Creative and Cultural Impact Lead

        Kortable

        General Director

        Nadaa Ghozzi

        General Director

        Select Travel and Tours

        Program Manager

        Amira Barkouti

        Program Manager

        Association Poney Mogods pour le Tourisme (APMT)

      Moderator

        Senior Communications Officer

        Marwa Ben Hassine

        Senior Communications Officer

        Leaders International

      13:30 - 14:30

      Lunch Break

        14:30 - 15:30

        Worksop: Civil Society Voices Shaping the Future of Creative Industries & Tourism

        This high-level policy session will highlight the voices of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as they present their concrete recommendations to government representatives on four strategic themes affecting Tunisia's creative industries and tourism sectors. Each CSO speaker, grounded in real-world experience, will present key policy gaps and propose innovative solutions to foster more inclusive and sustainable development. Following these presentations, government panelists will respond with feedback, clarify current initiatives, and engage in an open dialogue about future collaboration. The session will be facilitated by Elyes Guermazi, who will guide the discussions and ensure that participants' inputs directly contribute to the drafting of the final Policy Brief.

          Moderator

            Founder & Executive Director

            Elyes Guermazi

            Founder & Executive Director

            International Institute of Debate (iiDebate)

          15:30

          Closing Remarks & Launching of the Exhibition

            15:30 - 17:30

            B2B Exhibition and Networking

            The exhibition features a dynamic B2B platform designed to foster collaboration across Tunisia’s tourism and creative sectors. Civil Society Organizations from different regions will showcase their initiatives through dedicated regional booths, offering a window into community-led tourism experiences and grassroots innovation. Structured one-on-one B2B meetings will connect CSOs with tourism operators, ecosystem enablers, and potential investors—creating meaningful opportunities for strategic partnerships, investment, and long-term engagement.

              Partners

              • EU
              • Organized by

                EU
              • TANIT
              • MUSEUM LAB
              • EUROMED CLUSTERS FORWARD
              • ANIMA Investment Network
              • Tounes Wijhetouna
              • Creative Tunisia
              • Ministry of Tourism & Handicrafts

              Your journey begins here

              Innovate Tunisia

              Innovate Tunisia is a conference organized under the TANIT and ECF Projects, implemented by Leaders International and funded by the European Union.

              Should you require any assistance or have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

              TANIT

              TANIT is a project that strengthens the role of civil society organizations in promoting alternative and sustainable tourism across eight regions in Tunisia. By building local capacity and supporting small businesses, TANIT helps create jobs, protect cultural heritage, and encourage community-led tourism initiatives. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by Leaders International, in partnership with Museum Lab and the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism.

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              ECF

              ECF works to strengthen business clusters in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia. The project supports local organizations, improves policies, and builds partnerships with European clusters to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation. ECF is funded by the European Union and coordinated by ANIMA Investment Network with support from Leaders International and regional partners.

              Visit Website