Covering an area of 140 hectares, the complex will comprise several health cure centres using essentially thermal waters for which the area is known. Investment costs will reach some 400,000 dinars and the complex will include hotels, leisure facilities, including a golf course as well as a congress centre.

The launch of the works is expected to take place during the second part of 2009.

The project is also expected to generate hundreds of employments and give a boost to the region's economy.

With some 102,000 patients having undergone treatment in the country's various cosmetic clinics, Tunisia is increasingly becoming a hub for medical tourism. According to the latest figures released by the Tunisian Central Bank, health tourism revenues have reached 60 million dinars in 2007.

Most of the revenues are generated by medical acts in the sectors of cosmetic surgery, orthopaedic interventions, eye surgery, heart surgery and dentistry.

Tunisia is also the world's second destination for thalasso therapy. In 2007 151,000 visitors, mostly from France and Switzerland, stayed in one of the country's 41 thalasso therapy units authorized by the Public Health Ministry in 2007.