Tunisian Beaches: Public Right or Private Domain?

Tunisia's summer season is once again marked by a recurring debate: are the nation's beaches, with their nearly 1,300 kilometers of coastline, remaining public spaces accessible to all, or are they gradually being privatized for commercial operators? This question arises despite a clear legal framework that guarantees the public's right to enjoy the maritime domain.

Each summer, complaints from beachgoers multiply, fueling doubts about the effectiveness of controls and the enforcement of existing laws. While Tunisian legislation strictly regulates the use of the maritime public domain, with laws like No. 73 of 1995 emphasizing beaches as national property and Decree No. 1847 of 2014 setting rules for temporary occupations, the reality on the ground often falls short.

These regulations stipulate that concessions for chairs, umbrellas, or other equipment must be temporary, limited in space, and cannot impede public circulation or occupy the entire beach. A portion must always remain accessible to the public. However, many visitors report being pressured to rent equipment or facing altercations when attempting to use areas perceived as "reserved" for establishments or private concessionaires.

These commercial activities, while contributing to the tourism economy and creating jobs, become problematic when operators exceed their authorized limits or engage in practices that amount to de facto appropriation of public space. Testimonies shared on social media highlight a growing sense of injustice, with the recurring sentiment that "the modest citizen no longer has a place on the beaches."