Jump directly to the content
Pictured
INSIDE THE HOTEL OF TERROR

Tunisian hotel where ISIS gunman murdered 38 tourists is now a ghost resort

ISIS gunman Saifeddine Rezgui stormed the Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse a year ago

THE luxury hotel where British holidaymakers were gunned down by a Kalashnikov-wielding terrorist in Tunisia now stands eerily quiet after a slump in tourism forced it to close its doors.

A year ago tomorrow, 38 tourists including 30 Britons were massacred in the Mediterranean resort Sousse.

The Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse stands empty a year after the terror attack killed 30 British tourists
16
The Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse stands empty a year after the terror attack killed 30 British touristsCredit: Getty Images
The beach was packed when an ISIS gunman sprayed it with bullets but is now deserted
16
The beach was packed when an ISIS gunman sprayed it with bullets but is now desertedCredit: Getty Images
The grand marble-lined lobby of the Imperial Marhaba Hotel is eerily quiet today
16
The grand marble-lined lobby of the Imperial Marhaba Hotel is eerily quiet todayCredit: Getty Images
Gunman Saifeddine Rezgui seen during his 30-minute rampage in Sousse on June 26 last year
16
Gunman Saifeddine Rezgui seen during his 30-minute rampage in Sousse on June 26 last year
Saifeddine Rezgui was trained by ISIS jihadis in Libya before his murderous rampage
16
Saifeddine Rezgui was trained by ISIS jihadis in Libya before his murderous rampageCredit: PA:Press Association

ISIS-inspired gunman Saifeddine Rezgui sprayed sunbathers on the beach with an assault rifle before storming into the Imperial Marhaba hotel to continue his killing spree.

Bullet holes in the outer walls remain as a chilling reminder of how Rezgui marauded around the pool and lobby, firing as he went.

Today the hotel stands empty, its swimming pool drained and grand marble-lined lobby deserted.

One day last week only three tourists were lounging on its beach, where a year ago visitors laid flowers on the sand in memory of those who died on June 26, 2015.

Hotel manager Mehrez Saadi said: "We think we will re-open next year. For now we start by changing the name from the Imperial Marhaba to Kantaoui Bay."

An indoor pool has been drained after after the luxury hotel was forced to shut
16
An indoor pool has been drained after after the luxury hotel was forced to shutCredit: Getty Images
Shallow green water stand in the outdoor pool where Rezgui gunned down holidaymakers with a Kalashnikov
16
Shallow green water stand in the outdoor pool where Rezgui gunned down holidaymakers with a KalashnikovCredit: Getty Images
British and European tour groups have stayed away since the massacre a year ago
16
British and European tour groups have stayed away since the massacre a year agoCredit: Getty Images
The Imperial Marhaba Hotel aims to reopen next year under a different name
16
The Imperial Marhaba Hotel aims to reopen next year under a different nameCredit: Getty Images

It is one of several hotels along the stretch of golden sand forced to shut its doors since last June's massacre and another at the Bardo museum in the capital Tunis left 21 dead.

In 2014 around 400,000 Britons and 425,000 Germans visited Tunisia but now the tour groups stay away.

"The number of English tourists is down by 98 percent in Sousse," said regional tourism representative Fouad el Ouad.

RELATED STORIES

Woman who survived the Tunisia massacre alongside her fiance relives the horror
'i felt mat's blood wash over me'

Woman who survived the Tunisia massacre alongside her fiance relives the horror

Tunisia begs UK to relax travel advice after Brit visitor levels drop by 90% in wake of terror attacks
Brits bail

Tunisia begs UK to relax travel advice after Brit visitor levels drop by 90% in wake of terror attacks

Armed police on patrol as ISIS ‘bomber’ appears in court over the Paris and Brussels massacres
TERROR ALERT

Armed police on patrol as ISIS ‘bomber’ appears in court over the Paris and Brussels massacres

Jihadis celebrate leave vote and call on thugs to carry out massive attacks to 'paralyse' the EU
ISIS BREXIT THREAT

Jihadis celebrate leave vote and call on thugs to carry out massive attacks to 'paralyse' the EU

Only 9,000 visitors are currently in the resort, which has 90 hotels and 40,000 beds which would have been full at this time of year before the terror attacks.

More than half of those are Russians, targeted as a new market along with visitors from neighbouring Algeria.

Since the Sousse attack, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel to Tunisia.

Bullet holes are still visible marking where Rezgui rampaged through the hotel with a Kalashnikov
16
Bullet holes are still visible marking where Rezgui rampaged through the hotel with a KalashnikovCredit: Getty Images
The Imperial Marhaba is one of a number of hotels in Sousse forced to close their doors as the tourist trade collapsed following the attacks
16
The Imperial Marhaba is one of a number of hotels in Sousse forced to close their doors as the tourist trade collapsed following the attacksCredit: Getty Images
Tourism officials say the number of Britons visiting has dropped 98 per cent since last year
16
Tourism officials say the number of Britons visiting has dropped 98 per cent since last yearCredit: Getty Images
Desperate tourism chiefs hope the Foreign Office will relax its advice warning against all but essential travel to Tunisia
16
Desperate tourism chiefs hope the Foreign Office will relax its advice warning against all but essential travel to TunisiaCredit: Getty Images
Thousands of job rely on the tourism industry but visitor number have slumped dramatically
16
Thousands of job rely on the tourism industry but visitor number have slumped dramaticallyCredit: Getty Images

 

Desperate tourism chiefs are now hoping for the guidance to be relaxed, saying its means the terrorists are "on the winning side"

Tunisian authorities have stepped up security at major tourism sites and hotels to reassure tour operators and foreign governments visitors will be safe.

The first anniversary Sousse massacre will be marked with a minute's silence in government buildings across the UK and in British embassies overseas on Monday at noon.

The Minister for North Africa, Tobias Ellwood, will visit Tunisia for meetings with officials from the country's government and will observe the silence in the UK Embassy in Tunis.

Relatives lay flowers in memory of the 38 holidaymakers murdered in Sousse last year
16
Relatives lay flowers in memory of the 38 holidaymakers murdered in Sousse last yearCredit: Getty Images
A one minute silence will mark the first anniversary of the attack which killed 30 Britons. Top row from left, Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans and Joel Richards. Bottom row from left, Carly Lovett, Elaine and Denis Thwaites
16
A one minute silence will mark the first anniversary of the attack which killed 30 Britons. Top row from left, Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans and Joel Richards. Bottom row from left, Carly Lovett, Elaine and Denis ThwaitesCredit: PA:Press Association

Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Ellwood said: "As we mark the first anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack in Sousse we remember the 38 people brutally murdered, including 30 British nationals.

"A year on, we keep in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends who lost loved ones, those who were injured and others who witnessed this horrendous attack.

"We continue to work closely with Tunisia to enhance security and support economic development and reform. Tunisia will not stand alone in the face of the terrorist threat and the UK will be by its side."

A special memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey in April for survivors and the victims' friends and families.

Prince Harry laid a wreath at the Innocent Victims Memorial on behalf of his grandmother the Queen and delivered a reading during the service.

 

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

 

Topics
machibet777.com