Taddouf (State)

Taddouf ⵟⴰⴷⵓⴼ (Sabawi) Taduf
State
Flag
Map of the Taddouf region Location of Taddouf north of mainland Sabaw
Country	Sabaw
Capital	Taddouf City
Government
• Body	Government of Taddouf
• President	Aziki Sadeq (30T)
Area
• Total	259 km2 (100 sq mi)
• Rank	Xth (0.05% of Sabaw)
Population  (2014)
• Total	179,122
• Density	690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
• Pop. rank	Xth (0.5% of Sabaw)
Demonym	Taddoufi
Time zone	UTC+2 (SST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (SSST)
ISO 3166 code	TA-TD
Area code	+210 554
Official languages	Sabawi Estmerish
Self-government	30 October 2006
Senate	Senate
National Assembly	2 deputies (out of 470)
National Council	1 senator (out of 100)
Website	www.gts.ta

Taddouf (Sabawi: ⵟⴰⴷⵓⴼ, solarianized Taduf) is an island and State in the Florian Sea off the coast of Sabaw. With a population of 179,122 and an area of 259 km² (100 sq mi) it is the smallest and most densely populated state in Sabaw and has the lowest population out of any state. It is also the only state where the majority of its population identify as Sotirian. The capital and largest city is Taddouf City which has a population of 148,283. Since 2006 the island has been granted self-government and has comparably more autonomy than other states on religious and social matters.

The island was an early refuge for the Alypian Church in the area and was the last refuge for Saint Alypia before he was martyred in 387AD. The County of Taddouf was a leading Alypian state during the Alypian Wars before being seized and annexed into Uqdis in 1487. The island became a base for piracy in the area which was consolidated after the island regained independence following the conquest of Uqdis by the Khalji Sultanate, Taddouf fell under Saab rule following the Takhenanet War. It was seized by Estmere in 1846 marking the beginning of the Estmerish protectorate in the area. It alongside the rest of Sabaw became independent in 1952 following the Treaty of Aïn El Keghoud. From 1969 onwards the island became a major holiday hotspot for Euclean holidaymakers with the advancement of cheap air travel, the island's economy grew rapidly around the tourism industry which quickly became the dominant sector of the island's economy and employs a plurality of the island's population. As of 2020 the island receives approximately 3 million tourists annually and is a popular year-round holiday and party destination due to its warm climate.

Economy

Tourism

Hotels and resorts are extremally common in coastal areas such as in Tehe

Anti-tourism graffiti in Taddouf City

The tourism industry comprises of the largest sector of the island's economy and Taddouf is heavily reliant on the tourism industry itself. In 2021 the Tourism sector made up 76% of the island's total economy for the year and employs approximately half of the island's population. The state has seen near continuous economic growth exceeding 5% of its GDP annually since 2008 largely as a result of foreign and government investment in the tourism sector. Sabaw gives investors and businesses special tax exemptions in exchange for developing the island's economy and creating at least 3 jobs on the island. As a result the island has seen the rapid construction of many hotels and resorts for tourists. As a result Taddouf City has expanded at a significant pace and has incorporated smaller towns and villages such as Tehe.

The tourism industry has also faced considerably controversy on the island from locals. In 2019 the government rejected introducing a moratorium on foreign property purchases on the island despite the island having on average the most expensive housing in Sabaw. Locals have also criticised foreign landlords of hiking rents during peak tourism months and evicting increasing amounts of locals to make way for short-term renting for holidaymakers. In 2020 the average cost for a mid-sized single home on Taddouf had reached €1,600,000, far beyond what many locals are able to afford, rent prices have also increased drastically since 2005 whilst wages in the tourism sector and other sectors have failed to match the cost of living. The construction boom on Taddouf has also failed to effect many low-income areas which are generally located away from areas popular with tourists, residents accused construction companies and the regional government of trying to hide the reality on the island from foreigners

Infrastructure

Taddouf Tehe International Airport handles approximately 7 million passengers annually