TUNIS, July 31 (Reuters) - Tunisia's Syphax has temporarily halted all flights, it said, citing a decision by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to suspend all activity with the airline.

"After the surprise ... decision by IATA, Syphax ... has been forced to suspend all flghts from and to Tunis from July 30, the airline said in a statement late on Thursday, without elaborating.

Syphax, which was founded by Tunisian businessman Mohammed Frikha in 2011, had been flying to Turkey, France, Saudi Arabia and Canada, according to its website.

The North African country's tourism industry, which represents about 7 percent of the economy, has been hit by two major Islamist militant attacks this year.

(Reporting by Mohamed Argoubi; writing by Ulf Laessing; editing by David Clarke) ((ulf.laessing@thomsonreuters.com; follow me on twitter @ulflaessing; Reuters Messaging: ulf.laessing.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: TUNISIA AIRLINES/