Electronic music festival rocks Tunisian desert
- 17 Nov 2019
The southern Tunisian desert, hosted a two-day electronic music festival, grabbing attention thousands of fans and star DJs.
Under heavy police protection in the town of Nefta, people danced on dunes as the sun set over the lunar-like landscape of the Sahara desert.
Tunisia's tourism sector -- which accounts for around seven percent of GDP -- was left reeling by jihadist attacks in 2015 on a museum and a tourist resort that left dozens dead, including 59 foreigners.
Security has improved since then, hence, the sector rebounding. According to industry officials, there is an expected record of nine million people visiting the country by the end of 2019.
"I adore such festivals in France but here in the desert and in the midst of this landscape it is magical," said Melissa Fleury, a 22-year-old who travelled from France to attend.
The festival created by a Franco-Tunisian hotelier with the support of the Tunisian tourism ministry. It was first launched in 2014, but halted after the deadly attacks in 2015.
This year the festival -- named "Les Dunes Electroniques" -- has drawn around 20 musicians, including award-winning Swiss-Chilean DJ Luciano.
Six thousands concert goers are expected to attend the festival.Fans are being treated to 30 hours of non-stop electronic music from across the globe, including traditional Tunisian rhythms, according to organisers.
The Tozeur region of southwest Tunisia where the festival is taking place served as a set for Anakin Skywalker's village Mos Espa in the Star Wars films.