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The 3rd century structure, El Jem amphitheatre, so symbolic of Tunisia that it features on the 20-dinar note, usually receives about 190,000 visitors a year, but in 2020 only 45,000 came, and so far this year it has been deserted most of the time. Over the past two weeks numbers have picked up a little after the government relaxed quarantine rules for package tours to salvage some foreign revenue from the summer high season, but they are still nowhere near where they were pre-pandemic.
El Jem amphitheatre, one of Tunisia's top attraction usually receives about 190,000 visitors a year, but in 2020 only 45,000 came. (Reuters Photo) 
"There are no tourists and the beach is empty. It is very sad," said Tatiana Vasileva, one of the tourist from Bulgaria. (Reuters Photo) 
In the plaza outside the amphitheatre, tourism businesses are slowly dying, as they are across the country, putting lives on hold and driving people into other walks of life. (Reuters Photo) 
Most tourists come to Tunisia for its long white beaches, but it also offers ruined Roman cities, cork forests, medieval mosques, Star Wars film sets and Saharan oases. (Reuters Photo) 
El Jem's amphitheatre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the late 3rd century, in El Jem. (Reuters Photo)
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