Tunisia beach attack: Tourism industry “will lose $515m” in revenues

An attack on a Tunisian beach in Sousse in which 39 people died, mainly British holidaymakers, will cost the country's tourism sector $515m (£327m) in lost revenues, a minister said today.

Read more: Travel shares tumble after Tunisia beach attack

Reuters reported that Selma Loumi, Tunisia's tourism minister, had said the losses "will be large". 

"The attack had a great impact on the economy," she said.

Shares in British holiday giants Thomas Cook and Tui both fell yesterday, as 8,000 of the estimated 20,000 British tourists in Tunisia flew home. 

The sector made up 14.5 per cent of Tunisian GDP last year, making $1.95bn in revenues. 

Tui said yesterday that 4,000 of its customers had returned to the UK after the attack, adding that it had offered customers due to travel to the country before 4 July the chance to cancel or change their booking. 

Meanwhile, airline Jet2 said it had cancelled all its flights to Tunisia up to 5 July, and was offering refunds.