The Tunis international book fair is an annual cultural event of international scope, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Preservation under the auspices of the President of the Republic.

Objectives

*  To contribute to the promotion of books as a fundamental medium and mediator for the transmission of ideas and knowledge.

*  To offer the public a choice opportunity of discovering the latest in intellectual, literary, scientific and artistic production in Tunisia and in the world.

*  To contribute to the establishment of a tradition of reading and use of books.

*  To create an enabling environment for developing exchange and partnerships in the spheres of creation, publishing and distribution and fostering contacts between professionals in the sector both on the national and international levels

*  To organise on the fringe of the fair any activity for the promotion of dialogue and exchange in intellectual, literary and/or artistic life.

*  To encourage interaction between books and new knowledge media and information technologies.

Development

At the time of it’s creation in 1982, the Tunisian International book fair  sessions were restricted to Arab books, and then the fair progressively expanded to gain an international dimension.

Become one of cultural rendez-vous the most anticipated and one of the benchmarks marking of the cultural agenda in Tunisia, the book fair of Tunis offers a framework conducive to the holding of various cultural activities involving eminent personalities of the world of letters, sciences and arts.

 In addition, the fair of Tunis plays a recognized role in the promotion of professional relationships between authors, literary agents, publishers, broadcasters and booksellers in Tunisia and elsewhere.

The public

    At its previous session (2008) the book fair welcomed about 250000 visitors representing all classes of ages and the various socio- cultural backgrounds and from the different regions of the country. By its international in scope, the fair of Tunis draws thousands of professionals and foreign visitors predominantly Maghreb, Arab and francophone.

The 27th session

The 27th session is endeavouring to achieve the following specific objectives:

1) Strengthen the international vocation of the event and its openness to the cultures of the world by expanding the participation to a greater number of countries and welcoming new publishers of quality.

2) Present in a balanced manner the cultural production, literary and scientific published through the book.

3) Contribute to a better dissemination of the Tunisian book.

4) Intensify the activities of promotion to the benefit of new editorial and new talents.
5) Grant in cultural activities organized by the opportunity, a special place to young people and children.

6) Strengthen dialog of civilizations and cultures and enhance the common among peoples.

7) To highlight the big cultural events of the year 2009 which are: Kairouan cultural capital Islamic, the Centenary of the Tunisian theatre, The Centenary of Aboul Kacem chebbi, the National Consultation on the book and reading.

8) Improve the services and information for professionals and visitors.