49
development of the tourist activity, which can contribute to the local economic growth of the
wilaya. Indeed, along with its vast forests, numerous beaches with different morphologies, the
wilaya account recognized and classified sites by international instruments, such the two
archaeological parks of Roman ruins, covering 70 ha, classified by UNESCO as world heritage in
1982 (UNESCO, 2022).
In addition to these vestiges, the wilaya of Tipaza comprise tourism infrastructures to about 6
million visitors annually. This capacity is declined in various infrastructures, such as 42 hotels, 7
youth hostels (Damous, Gouraya, Cherchell, Hadjret Ennous, Ain Tagourait and Douaouda), ZET.
Indeed, the wilaya has 22 ZETs with a total surface area of 1 950 ha, primarly located in the
chief town of the wilaya, namely:
- The Tipaza-ZET of 87.5 ha, of which 29% belongs to the forestry domain and 43% to
the agricultural domain intended to be reconverted into coastal management
(Mohamed-Chérif and Lakhlef, 2013),
- The Matares ZET of about 157 ha, urbanized to 12% of the total area, including a tourist
complex, a marine museum, a real estate cooperative and a future water treatment
plant,
- The ZET of Chenoua, which covers more than 400 ha.
These expansion zones are programmed for development projects (completed in the case of the
Tipaza-ZET) with the aim of increasing their reception capacity to 2 316 beds in 2019 and
providing more activity for visitors by considering new tourist modalities such ecotourism
(hiking).
2.7.3.5. Urbanization
Satellite imagery data and geomorphological studies show that the wilaya of Tipaza is a natural
extension of Algiers’ wilaya. Indeed, the geomorphological description of the wilaya of Algiers
includes five main areas: the western sahel, with a topography showing an alternation between
hills and plateaus, including the municipalities of western Algiers (Mahelma, Ain-Benian,
Chéraga) and Mount Chenoua, which represents a geomorphological subdivision of the wilaya
of Tipaza (Nouri & Ozer, 2014; Zerrouki & Belkadi, 2015).
Tipaza’s wilaya host a population of more than 700 thousand inhabitants for a density average
of 414 inhabitants/km² in 2019 against 346 inhabitants/km² at the last census of 2008
(Monographie/Tipaza, 2020). The most populated municipalities have more than 50 thousand
inhabitants (Koléa, Fouka, Cherchell, Hadjout), showing a greater density of populations in the
major urban centers of the Wilaya.
This is justified by the development of the municipalities of the wilaya to meet the needs of its
population, particularly in the eastern region. The coastal area of the wilaya of Tipaza features
a strong urbanization, mainly the development projects and the extensions that tend to advance
towards the sea and which, with the exception of tourist centers, are not controlled (Nouri and
Ozer, 2014).
The urban fabric of the wilaya is mainly represented by the real estate stock. It also includes
supporting infrastructure, industrial areas and port facilities.
2.7.4. Urban fabric
development of the tourist activity, which can contribute to the local economic growth of the
wilaya. Indeed, along with its vast forests, numerous beaches with different morphologies, the
wilaya account recognized and classified sites by international instruments, such the two
archaeological parks of Roman ruins, covering 70 ha, classified by UNESCO as world heritage in
1982 (UNESCO, 2022).
In addition to these vestiges, the wilaya of Tipaza comprise tourism infrastructures to about 6
million visitors annually. This capacity is declined in various infrastructures, such as 42 hotels, 7
youth hostels (Damous, Gouraya, Cherchell, Hadjret Ennous, Ain Tagourait and Douaouda), ZET.
Indeed, the wilaya has 22 ZETs with a total surface area of 1 950 ha, primarly located in the
chief town of the wilaya, namely:
- The Tipaza-ZET of 87.5 ha, of which 29% belongs to the forestry domain and 43% to
the agricultural domain intended to be reconverted into coastal management
(Mohamed-Chérif and Lakhlef, 2013),
- The Matares ZET of about 157 ha, urbanized to 12% of the total area, including a tourist
complex, a marine museum, a real estate cooperative and a future water treatment
plant,
- The ZET of Chenoua, which covers more than 400 ha.
These expansion zones are programmed for development projects (completed in the case of the
Tipaza-ZET) with the aim of increasing their reception capacity to 2 316 beds in 2019 and
providing more activity for visitors by considering new tourist modalities such ecotourism
(hiking).
2.7.3.5. Urbanization
Satellite imagery data and geomorphological studies show that the wilaya of Tipaza is a natural
extension of Algiers’ wilaya. Indeed, the geomorphological description of the wilaya of Algiers
includes five main areas: the western sahel, with a topography showing an alternation between
hills and plateaus, including the municipalities of western Algiers (Mahelma, Ain-Benian,
Chéraga) and Mount Chenoua, which represents a geomorphological subdivision of the wilaya
of Tipaza (Nouri & Ozer, 2014; Zerrouki & Belkadi, 2015).
Tipaza’s wilaya host a population of more than 700 thousand inhabitants for a density average
of 414 inhabitants/km² in 2019 against 346 inhabitants/km² at the last census of 2008
(Monographie/Tipaza, 2020). The most populated municipalities have more than 50 thousand
inhabitants (Koléa, Fouka, Cherchell, Hadjout), showing a greater density of populations in the
major urban centers of the Wilaya.
This is justified by the development of the municipalities of the wilaya to meet the needs of its
population, particularly in the eastern region. The coastal area of the wilaya of Tipaza features
a strong urbanization, mainly the development projects and the extensions that tend to advance
towards the sea and which, with the exception of tourist centers, are not controlled (Nouri and
Ozer, 2014).
The urban fabric of the wilaya is mainly represented by the real estate stock. It also includes
supporting infrastructure, industrial areas and port facilities.
2.7.4. Urban fabric