Urban expansion and demographic explosion

Hammamet 

Hammamet, the Tunisian Saint-Tropez, prized in the early 20th century by the aristocracy and artists, has transformed from a Tunisian fishing village into a true seaside resort. During that period, there were no large gatherings or multiple hotels present. The Hotel "Le Phenicia" was under construction. Tourism and the regulation of this seasonal activity were new. The intensity of capital invested in the sector would grow exponentially and extend into the other months of the year. An imbalance quickly developed between the existing infrastructure and the hotel superstructures. Moreover, in October-November, the high season was ending, and as the weeks passed, the days grew rapidly cooler. The gardeners keeping the impressive, blooming gardens of the Sheraton were attired in hats and wool sweaters. They couldn't understand how we tourists could walk around in our swimsuits on the beach and around the pool. Our child, in fact, refused to set foot on either the golden sand of the beach or the chilly water of the children's pool. Seeing our reluctance to swim, they finally heated it. The other tourists were mostly on excursions.

Our room was very spacious, and the bed in a huge alcove was the size of a harem bed. Our child would sleep in a bed provided by the hotel. Tired from the journey, she didn't fight sleep for long. On the plane, the suppository meant to calm her only excited her. In the evening, when we wanted to sleep, an incessant noise prevented us; it was a cricket that had gotten into the room during the day and taken refuge between two dressers fixed to the wall. The father had the brilliant idea of ​​immobilizing him with his wife's hairspray. 

For our child's meals, we had a supply of Fali de Fallieres jars, a specialized baby food made in Tulle, France. But once we ran out, we had to order more from the local pharmacist. Because of slow service, we rented a car, drove 60 km to Tunis, and returned with some ourselves. In the meantime, our child would only eat scrambled eggs. Fortunately, in the mornings, we had hearty breakfasts with delicious products baked overnight by the excellent baker at the hotel. The croissants were delicious, and our child ate them with relish. In Tunis, at the Museum of Handicrafts, we brought back a decorative rug to hang on the wall of the stairs landing at home.

One day, we decided to take a bus tour with the local tourists. A tire went flat, and it took the driver hours to fix it. The little girl was hungry, thirsty, and fussy because of the intense heat. So, I went to take shelter from the blazing sun in the shade of the only bush along the main road. We were going to visit Nabeul, famous for its beautiful pottery and earthenware, barely 10 km from Hammamet. We bought vibrant gold-trimmed mint tea glasses that the girl loved. Despite the mishap, the day was enjoyable. Mint tea is delicious; it must be extremely hot and extremely sweet.

1973 also saw the first declaration of the oil embargo by OPEC. From October 1973 to March 1974, the price of a barrel of oil quadrupled, reaching $11.62, with a clear negative impact on the world economy. On October 6, the State of Israel was attacked by a coalition of Arab states, including Egypt and Syria. This war served as a pretext for raising the price of oil in response to Western countries supporting Israel. The second oil crisis occurred in 1979 following revolutionary unrest in Iran, which ultimately led to the Shah's downfall.

Hammamet, thanks to its geographical, climatic, and historical advantages, has become Tunisia's primary tourist destination. Once a self-sufficient city, it has transformed into a popular and cosmopolitan seaside resort through a dramatic increase in tourism. Tourism began in 1959 when the semi-public Tunisian Hotel and Tourism Company built Hammamet's first hotel, the Miramar. From the 1960s to the 1970s, construction began on 18 establishments along the coastline, stretching from the north to the south of the city. Very quickly, private investors, faced with a shortage of beds and eagerness for profitability, expanded the hotel sector by developing establishments of distinct categories. By the end of 1980, the total capacity was 32 hotels, and since then, Hammamet has been considered the country's tourist capital, best satisfying travel agencies. Work in the sector of tourism has gradually developed at the expense of local agriculture, fishing, and other sectors such as traditional crafts. Fertile land is being used for urbanization rather than for the goal of diversifying and ensuring food self-sufficiency for the local population.

Today, tourism in Hammamet has exploded so much that there are 198 hotels in the area. This is beneficial for providing employment for women and students. However, do not underestimate the pollution that this increased activity and population growth generates, and the lack of job diversification