Tourism Exploitation Concession Contracts for Beaches in Algerian Legislation

Abstract

The Algerian legislator has introduced a legal framework governing the use and exploitation of beaches as part of the state’s public natural domain. Algeria has a vast coastline stretching 1,622 kilometres. To this end, the legislator has adopted the concession as a mechanism for the tourism exploitation of beaches. The most important provisions are set out in Law No. 03-02 of 17 February 2003, which establishes the general rules governing the tourism use and exploitation of beaches. This law has been amended and supplemented by Law No. 25-07 of 19 July 2025, as well as Executive Decree No. 04-274 of 5 September 2004. The latter lays down the conditions for the tourism exploitation of beaches open to swimming and the procedures for implementing such exploitation. 

This study examines the legal framework governing the tourism exploitation concession of beaches in Algerian legislation. Our goal is to define the concept of a beach tourism exploitation concession contract and the rules governing its grant. This will enable us to evaluate the extent to which the legal system governing the use and exploitation of beaches contributes to the expected economic returns of tourism exploitation concession contracts, which necessarily interact with various economic, social and environmental considerations.