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.
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.
Connecting Cultures
Expanding Horizons
Live from Tunisia. Linked to the Region. Open to the World
Tourism and Creative industries - Confernce Agenda
Day: 29th of May, 2025
Wajih Khelifa
Acting Chef de Cabinet
Ministry of Tourism and Handiscrafs
Tom Ashwanden
Chief of Cooperation
European Union - Tunisia
Shadi Atshan
General Director
Leaders International
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.
Wahida Jaiet
Advisor to the Minister
Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts
Mehdi Haloui
General Director.
Tourism board – ONTT
Leïla Msellati
General Director
Handicrafts board - ONAT
Khadija Djellouli
Communication & Development Project Expert
UNIDO
Serge Stagnoli
Lead Advisor – Tounes Wijhetouna Programme Support
European Union
Emmanuel Noutary
General Delegate
ANIMA Investment Network
Fatma Ben Nour
Country Manager - Tunisia
Leaders International
Spotlight on TANIT & Euromed Clusters Forward
Dina Zabaneh
Projects Manager
Leaders International
Fatma Ben Nour
Country Manager - Tunisia
Leaders International
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.
Montassar Sassi
Ceramic Artisan & Innovator
Handmade Craft Group
Adly Thoma
Chairman and CEO
Gemini Africa - Egypt
Mahmoud Abu Amireh
Private Sector Development Expert
Leather and Shoe Cluster Palestine
Walaa Brini
Interior Architect & Design Researcher
Althiburos Immagination el Kef
Eric Ritter
Director of the School of Fashion
Académie Libanaise ses Beaux-Arts - Alba Université de Balamand
Hassine Labaied
Managing Partner
SKILA
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.
Rym Belajouza Ben Fadhel
Founder
EIGHT Hospitality Business School
Nour Kamar Jamil
Ceramic Artisan & Designer
Belle Lune
Emna Jbeli
Creative and Cultural Impact Lead
Kortable
Nadaa Ghozzi
General Director
Select Travel and Tours
Amira Barkouti
Program Manager
Association Poney Mogods pour le Tourisme (APMT)
Marwa Ben Hassine
Senior Communications Officer
Leaders International
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.
Elyes Guermazi
Founder & Executive Director
International Institute of Debate (iiDebate)
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.
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.
Visit WebsiteECF 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.
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