Be it the draw of the 1,300 kilometers of Mediterranean beaches, or the rich culture based upon its 3,000 year-history as a crossroads for great civilizations ― Tunisia’s diverse treasure trove has much to offer Korean tourists.

With its northern coast pointing toward Italy and its southern region plunging into the Sahara, Tunisia connects Europe to Africa as well as East to West.

Long-known for its sun and beautiful seascapes, Tunisia has recently focused on diversifying its tourism beyond the draw of its golden sands.

Koreans do not need a visa to enter the country to enjoy the Gulf, Sahara, culture and health and eco tourism in a safe and famously hospitable environment.

The country welcomes nearly 7 million tourists each year, and can be reached in three hours or less from major European cities. It aims to keep growing its tourism following last year’s revolution to have that number top 10 million. It was ranked third by the New York Times among the world’s best tourist destinations for 2008.

Tunisia was the former center of the Carthaginian Empire and was once also a major Roman province. Relics such as the biggest collection in the world of Roman mosaics, housed at the Bardo Museum, can evoke glorious images of the past for culture junkies.

Over 20,000 archeological sites and monuments remain to trace the thousands of years of brilliant civilizations that have crossed the country.

The charms of the capital Tunis include a stroll down the avenue Bourguiba. The city’s vast web of alleyways is lined with 1930s buildings housing boutiques, cafs and gourmet restaurants with arched passages leading onto the colorful central market.

Sites such as the Great Mosque and the remains of Carthage also await exploration. Next to Carthage is the blue and white village of Sidi Bou Said overlooking a magnificent marine landscape.

Tunisia’s antique towns, called Medinas, are also a world in and of themselves. Three have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The largest, in Tunis, has large covered markets, mosques decorated with green tiles and pink marble and old Hammams (public baths). Souks can be found under brick archways, piled with sparkling wares and fragrant spices.

Also, Tunisia’s nine large golf courses welcome players year-round thanks to the mild climate. Many of the picturesque courses wind between palm trees and fruit trees, sometimes finishing at the seaside. Once there, tourists can also enjoy a treatment at one of Tunisia’s 33 thalassotherapy centers, which exclusively use seawater pumped from mid-ocean to provide bubbling baths perfumed with essential oils. The country is second in the world for thalassotherapy treatments.

More adventurous visitors can discover desert dunes and miraculous oases by venturing to the south and the Sahara. Accompanied by camel drivers, visitors can witness Berber villagers in the mountains to the nomads of the desert plains.

By Kirsty Taylor  (kirstyt@heraldcorp.com)