Thousands of shaken tourists left Tunisia only a day following an attack on a beach resort that killed dozens, AFP reported Saturday.
Daesh (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the deadly shooting that killed 38 and injured another 39 in the city of Sousse, a popular tourist destination south of the capital.
Tunisia's tourism industry has already taken a hit after the Bardo museum attack in March left 20 foreigners dead. The new targeted shooting on Friday creates another setback for the North African country's economy, which relies heavily on foreign visitors.
"If I were in their shoes, I wouldn't set foot in Tunisia right now," said Imed Triki, a shopkeeper in Sousse, according to AFP. "After this catastrophe, it's normal that they leave the country so quickly. Do they come here on holiday or to die?"
A Tunisian who witnessed the event told police the Daesh-affiliated militants deliberately targeted tourists, telling the Tunisian to stay away and firing only at foreigners.
Tourism accounts for seven percent of Tunisia's GDP and 400,000 jobs in the country, according to AFP.
Tunisia's health ministry has identified 17 of the victims, who came from Britain, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and Portugal.
