SABRI OUESLATI, FOUNDER

Dar To Dar®, for a tailor-made trip with high added value

Interview with Sabri Oueslati, director and founder of Dar To Dar®

Why did you create the exclusive Dar To Dar® agency in Tunisia?

I am a Belgian-Tunisian entrepreneur. I have lived in Brussels all my life while remaining very attached to this other country which Tunisia represents for me. In 2009, I invested here and opened a guest house in the Cap Bon region, in the heart of the Medina of Nabeul. “Dar Sabri” satisfies my desire to offer demanding customers elegant, high-end accommodation combining an oriental lifestyle and contemporary comfort.
When the Revolution took place in January 2011, I wanted to experience this socio-political change more intensely and be part of this historic dynamic by coming to settle in Tunisia full-time.
I quickly noticed the lack of a local travel agency offering an original approach to travel and a high-quality service. I therefore wanted to fill this gap by creating Dar To Dar®, a travel agency specialising in high-end, tailor-made travel to Tunisia. I am also president of the Edhiafa association, an umbrella organisation for the guest houses in the country, and a founder member of “Dar Tunisia”, the leading group of the most beautiful places to stay in Tunisia. In this context, I am actively involved in developing the destination and promoting a form of cultural tourism that respects human values.
Tunisia is a country that is still completely misunderstood as regards the sophisticated, charming aspect of its way of life, the luxurious nature of some of its accommodation, the great professionalism and the high quality of the treatments offered by its spas and thalassotherapy centres, the refinement of its cuisine, the richness of its heritage and its cultural life, and so on. Dar To Dar® offers the chance to discover all of this within an exclusive, tailor-made approach.

What differentiates Dar To Dar® from the other international travel agencies that offer Tunisia as a destination?

Dar To Dar® listens to the traveller’s wishes in order to put together a tailor-made trip with him. Thanks to our very detailed knowledge of Tunisia and its regions, which we experience on a daily basis, we can offer an original approach to the country and its culture. The personalised, individual trip is specially designed with and for our customer according to his traveller profile, his desires, his centres of interest and those of his travelling companions and the possibilities offered by the destination.
We place the quality of our leadership at the heart of our trips, with “passion” as our watchword. Thus, some of our travel guides are historians, geographers, university professors, painters or architects. Visiting the Medina of Tunis in the company of an author, a native of “the Arab town”, or discovering Djerba through the eyes of a painter are just some of the possibilities on offer to ensure that our customers have a remarkable trip.

What are Sabri Oueslati’s best establishments or top places to visit in Tunisia?

I am enchanted by the little town of Erriadh on the island of Djerba: its harmonious architecture, its peaceful atmosphere, the coexistance of its Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities, and so on. In south-west Tunisia, I admit that I am also always attracted to Nefta and its palm grove. It’s a journey back in time, a real change of scene for me each time.
In terms of cuisine, I love places as diverse as the Le Plazza restaurant in La Marsa for its cosmopolitan aspect, the Barberousse in Hammamet for its seafood-based cuisine, the Fondouk el Attarine and Dar Slah in the Medina of Tunis for the culinary journey they offer in the Tunisian culinary traditions and La Closerie in Tunis for its sheer trendiness.
In terms of regional products, I love the wines from the Kurubis estate, les produits de la marque the products from the Ksar brand and in particular its orange-blossom honey, its strawberry jam from Tazerka and its fig jam from Chebba.
Craftsmanship has also seen a real renaissance in Tunisia in recent years thanks to artisans and designers who are updating textures, materials, fibres, etc. to meet current tastes with a very contemporary range. Mariem Besbes, Sadika Keskes, the brand Rock The Kasbah, and Ashkan all share this state of mind which I love.