During the sixties, Tunisia witnessed an amazing growth of the sea-side tourism activity then representing a real development opportunity. Accommodation structures and facilities were constructed with no planning. This resulted in detrimental consequences, particularly the high cost of connections to infrastructure networks, due to the linear implementation of hotels, a rapid impoverishment of resources, and an excessive exploitation of the ground compared to offer activities.
Therefore, a comprehensive assessment study started in the seventies on the implementation of hotels, along with an evaluation of their potentials and their integration in the environment as well as possibilities to provide infrastructure networks. It resulted in the creation of territorial areas referred to as “Tourism Zones”, including development plans, adopted by decrees and can be opposed to third parties. In this framework, administrative structures were created, including in particular the Tourism Real Estate Agency.
