Company Philosophy

 TunisUSA is a tour company that specializes in cultural/historical tourism. The company was founded in 1993 by Jerry Sorkin, a specialist in Middle East and North African affairs. Headquartered in the Philadelphia area (Wayne, PA) with an office in Tunis, Tunisia, where all logistical aspects of domestic transport, billing and administration activities take place, TunisUSA also has operations in Turkey, Iran, Malta, the U.A.E., India and Libya. Additional alliances are found in other areas of the Middle East. (NOTE: Operations with Libya are on hold until Libya’s visa policy, which presently bans American tourists, is resolved.)

The growth of TunisUSA is partially guided by the philosophy of the founder, that TunisUSA should be a specialist in countries, regions or topics that allow the firm to bring operational and personal experience to all programs. Rather than be involved in an abundance of countries, the firm’s strategy is to provide more expertise and in-depth specialization where it can provide particular advantages for the firm’s clients. With a “rolodex” of contacts in the countries they serve, TunisUSA is able to provide added value in people-to-people encounters, providing an enriched component to its tours.

TunisUSA organizes scheduled, small group tours under the banner of TunisUSA, as well as private tours. In addition, TunisUSA frequently partners with non-profit organizations and affinity groups, university student and alumni travel departments, as well as serving as the Tunisian ground support for other American based tour companies marketing Tunisia.

In December 2008, the Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce awarded TunisUSA its “Special Award” citing “leadership and an innovative strategy in branding Tunisian products in the US market". The Selection Committee noted TunisUSA's "exceptional efforts promoting cultural and top of the range tourism in Tunisia."  In August 2009, Conde Nast Traveler magazine awarded “Jerry Sorkin, TunisUSA” its distinguished honor of being among their top “Travel Specialists”, recognized for the firm's work in Tunisia.

Bio of Jerry Sorkin, TunisUSA founder…

Jerry Sorkin, is a Middle East and North African specialist, having earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Pennsylvania (PENN), where he specialized in Middle East studies and international business, respectively. Jerry also taught for nearly a decade at PENN’s, College of General Studies, an unusual course; “Oriental Rugs: A Reflection on Culture”, an ethnographic/historical perspective of Oriental rugs. He has traveled widely and frequently throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the India sub-continent.

Jerry is a frequent lecturer on topics regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict, unique approaches to cultural bridge-building, an entrepreneurial approach to cross-cultural opportunities and the cultural aspects of Oriental rugs. He is conversant in Arabic, French and Hebrew and resides part-time in Tunis, Tunisia, with his primary residence being Philadelphia.