An incident that occurred in Sousse recently aroused indignation and vigilance: a British tourist claimed to have been the victim of a displaced behavior during a paragliding activity. If the facts are still under investigation, this kind of behavior, if proven, unfortunately tarnishes the image of a country with a strong tourist vocation like Tunisia.
The incident was relayed by the British tabloid The Suna very followed media, sometimes known for its sensationalist processing of information. The article relates the testimony of Michelle Wilson, a 52-year-old British national, who would have suffered a sexual assault during a paragliding flight assisted in Sousse, in the center-east of Tunisia.
She says she has been touched several times, inappropriately, by the operator responsible for accompanying him during the flight. The alleged victim describes a moment of “terror” and a deep feeling of humiliation. She immediately pointed out the facts to the Tunisian police after landing. An investigation is currently underway, while official parties have been seized.
I was sexually assaulted at hundreds of meters in the air while I was doing the ascending parachute during a vacation in Tunisia … I felt raped and dirty
An isolated case in a safe country
Tunisia, which welcomes millions of visitors every year, remains a country considered as Sure for touristswith a fabric of professional and welcoming tourist providers. This type of news item is isolated And does not in any way reflect the entire Tunisian tourism sector, which makes important efforts in terms of quality and safety.
Nevertheless, this case raises several important lessons to shoot. It recalls the need:
- to more rigorously supervise certain nautical or leisure activities,
- to strengthen the control of providers,
- And to train operators in ethical rules and strict respect for customers, whether national or foreign.
Media impact: a vigilance to have
The media coverage of such an event, especially by a consumer media at high audience as The Suncan wear a considerable damage to the image of the country. In a context where Tunisia is trying to regain its place on the international tourist scene, this kind of information, even if they concern isolated cases, can tarnish the confidence of potential visitors.
It is therefore crucial to react seriously, to show that complaints are taken into account and that the authorities ensure that justice is done.
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