While many Tunisians choose to spend their summer holidays on public beaches, hoping to escape heat without grew up their budget too much, the real costs of a simple day at sea become heavier for families.
The Tunisian organization for consumer orientation recently sounded the alarm: for a family made up of four members, a day of relaxation on the beaches around the capital can cost between 120 and 150 dinars.
An amount that includes transportation, catering, drinks, parasol or lounge rentals, and sometimes even unofficial access costs imposed by certain operators.
This estimate raises questions about fair access to leisure during the summer period, especially in a context of falling purchasing power. “What was once a free or inexpensive activity today becomes a luxury for many citizens,” said a representative of the organization.
The beaches of La Goulette, La Marsa, Raoued, Gammarth or Ezzahra, although they remain very frequented, testify to this evolution of local tourism, now marked by an increasing commodification of public space.
Faced with this situation, the organization calls on the authorities to further supervise the exploitation of beaches and to ensure compliance with citizens’ right to freely benefit from the coast, without abusive financial overload.