Tunisia inquests: Sousse attack 'ruined' country's reputation, claims former minister

Lazhar Akremi said the nation’s tourism industry had been “destroyed” following the attack in which 30 Britons were killed.

Speaking to The Times, Akremi, who was part of the crisis committee that responded to shooting at the Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel in June 2015, said the Tunisian people had suffered as a result of the downturn in travel to the country.

At the time of the attack Akremi was minister for relations liaising between government officials and the Tunisian parliament.

“You lost 30 people. But the suffering is bigger for the Tunisian people,” he told The Times. “I mean, the reputation of the country was ruined, tourism was destroyed, also the 30 were our guests. They were killed while they were our guests.”

Meanwhile, Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel which closed after the Sousse attack is to re-open under a new name next month.

Deutsche Hospitality signed a contract to operate the premises in December alongside Zohra Driss, the hotel’s local owner, The Times reports.

“From the second quarter of 2017, guests will be able to relax at the Steigenberger Hotel Kantaoui Bay in Sousse, Tunisia,” the company said.

On its website, the Steigenberger hotel group says that rooms could be available from April 1.

Renovation work at the Hotel Kantaoui Bay is in its final stages and gardeners are working in its grounds.

According to the company, security is set to be stepped up at the resort with visitors and guests scanned by airport-style x-ray machines.

Anyone entering the premises will also be scanned by walk-through metal detectors, The Times reports.

“There are concrete safety guidelines from the local authorities in terms of fire protection regulations, escape routes, which will naturally be fulfilled in our hotel,” Jannah Baldus, a spokesperson for Deutsche Hospitality, told the newspaper.