Agadir Tourist Police Crackdown: Fake Guides and Inflated Prices

In Agadir, tourist safety has become a closely monitored priority. On the corniche, the tourist brigade patrols 24 hours a day. In the agents’ sights: fake guides, accused of harassing visitors and demanding exorbitant tips.

On Bladi.net : Marrakech: Too Many Fake Guides

The check is quick, almost routine. "Hello, how are you? ID please," asks a police officer to a man suspected of working without a license. "Yes of course," he replies. The agents question him: "Do you work here?" — "No, I’m just walking around." This time, it’s a false alarm. But vigilance remains maximum.

For Moroccan authorities, these fake guides have become a real scourge. The offense can be punished with two years in prison. In Agadir, nearly 800 people were arrested last year for this type of practice, according to TF1’s report. On the beach, folk groups are tolerated, but street vendors are quickly chased away when spotted.

Surveillance doesn’t stop at the waterfront. In the city, 438 cameras equipped with facial recognition are deployed. A wall of screens allows monitoring of incidents, from drug use to traffic accidents, and coordinating around a hundred agents in the field. "Look at the camera. Okay, we’re sending police right away," can be heard on the radio.

Another sensitive point: the covered market. In its busy aisles, police hunt for counterfeits, but also inflated prices. Tourists, meanwhile, have learned to negotiate. "I go by the principle that when they give me a price, I go to half, and I work up until they give in," says one tourist.

For authorities, the visible presence of police is already enough to curb certain practices. "Our role has eliminated many phenomena. For example, begging, harassment, even theft," says a commissioner interviewed in the report.

On Bladi.net : Agadir’s Fish Market Scandal: Tourists and Locals Outraged by 1000% Price Hike

Behind these controls, the stakes are also economic. Tourism brings in over 10 billion euros each year to Morocco and represents nearly 10% of national wealth. In Agadir, the kingdom’s flagship beach resort, image matters as much as sunshine. In addition to its all-inclusive packages, the city is now betting on security to reassure vacationers. And the strategy seems to be paying off: last year, Agadir welcomed over one million visitors.