Algeciras Travel Agencies Face Closure as Ferry Companies Halt Ticket Sales

These agencies had to close in March 2020 after the closure of borders for health reasons, as there were no tickets to sell. The resumption of maritime passenger traffic with Morocco on April 12 was applauded by these tourism professionals who were hoping for a gradual return to normal, especially with the announcement of the organization of the Marhaba Operation 2022.

But they were surprised by the decision of four of the five shipping companies operating in the strait to handle ticket sales themselves. "The shipping companies want to manage the sales directly and leave us aside, except for one: Intershipping. We have been in the port for 25 to 35 years and we are a hundred families who want to be left on the street, after two difficult years of health crisis," lamented Juan Parada, the president of the Association of Travel Agencies in the Port of Algeciras.

To read: Algeciras Port Prepares for Return of Morocco-Spain Summer Travel Operation

The agency managers met last week with the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras and the mayor of this city, José Ignacio Landaluce, to "ask them to mediate with the shipping companies" to resolve the situation. If no solution is found by Wednesday, "the workers will take protest actions and we will support them," warns Juan Parada. The mayor of Algeciras has assured that he will do everything possible to help the two parties reach an agreement.

The Marhaba Operation, which represents a significant share of the annual turnover of these agencies, will probably start on June 15. In 2019, nearly 80% of the more than three million travelers and 700,000 vehicles who participated in the Operation, transited through the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa. This year, the flow will be much more important, according to estimates, given that the Operation was canceled in 2020 and 2021 for health reasons.