Pay to swim: Gangs extort Algerian beach-goers

Mahmoudi Bashir's family travelled 600km from the southern Algerian city of al-Wadi to the coastal city of Jijel in the country's east to spend their summer holidays on the seaside.

The Bashirs paid a handsome sum of money to rent an apartment for their ten-day stay - but were unaware of a new trend in the area - with the city's gangs imposing all sorts of "fees" on holiday-makers.

Bashir's family had not even set foot amid the sandy dunes when they were approached by a group of young men demanding their family paid $1.50 to park their car - three times the parking fee set by official authorities.

The baton-wielding men soon got into an argument with Mahmoudi after they demanded he pay a further $8 to be allowed onto the beach.

"I don't know who makes the laws," said Bashir, "the authorities or the gangs?

"I've heard of many holidaymakers being abused for refusing to pay, despite beaches being free, but it seems that the gangs get the final word."

Conflicting statements

Algerian beach-goers were left confused over the summer due to the conflicting statements of Algerian officials on whether or not Algerian beaches had been taken into state ownership after being run by private companies.

The groups that have taken control of the beaches for many years have not paid any attention to the minister's statements

The former minister of tourism, Nouria Zarhouri, stated that two-thirds of the country's beaches will continue to be run by private companies, while the remainder will be public-run beaches, free of charge.

She was, however, replaced before the summer season warmed up.

Zarhouni's replacement, Amar Ghoul, has stressed that all Algerian beaches would be free to the Algerian public. 

The reality remains quite different, however, as the groups that have taken control of the beaches for many years have not paid any attention to the minister's statements.

Gang law

Gangs of unemployed youths started taking control of beaches after the end of the Algerian civil war - when the state was barely present - as an easy way to make some money off tourists.

"If there was a political will it would be very easy to put an end to the problem," said Zinedine Shraitiya, the head of the Tourism Club in Jijel province.

"How can a state that has dealt with the problem of terrorism not be able to deal with a bunch of teenagers?

"The concessions law complicated issues, making private businesses dramatically increase entrance fees and the prices of renting umbrellas, and the situation has been out of control ever since," added Shraitiya.

Mustafa Zabdi, the head of the Algerian consumer rights group, believes the problem stems from the government's lax attitude over enforcing tourism laws.

It's absurd that Algerians have to pay a fee to swim in their country's sea - Mustafa Zabdi

Zabdi said that local authorities do not want to get into disagreements with the gangs - because they are usually locals who live in the vicinity of the beaches they control.

"It's absurd that Algerians have to pay a fee to swim in their country's sea," said Zabdi.

"We get hundreds of complaints about people being charged to park their cars and use the beaches - in addition to complaints about dirty beaches which should have been cleaned by those who claim to manage them."

State within a state

"There's a state within the state," said Belqassim Mansouri, an Algerian tourist. "They brazenly try to impose their own law, claiming that they make the laws in the area. It's a real mafia."

Mansouri, who was once a frequent beachgoer in Jijel before the gangs took over, told al-Araby al-Jadeed that whenever he would threaten to complain to the authorities, the gangs would mock him, saying no one would listen to him.

The beaches in Jijel province have seen police patrols attempting to enforce the government's new free entry scheme - but as soon as the patrols leave, the gangs resume their activities.

The Tunisian ministry of tourism has confirmed that two million Algerians have visited Tunisia since the start of the summer

The chaos on Algerian beaches has pushed large numbers of Algerian holiday makers to Tunisia, where, despite security threats, they receive excellent services for reasonable prices.

The Tunisian ministry of tourism has confirmed that two million Algerians have visited Tunisia since the start of the summer.

One Algerian tourist in Tunisia said more like him would go to their neighbouring country's resorts: "The migration will continue until the government takes the beaches back from the mafias."