Casablanca beaches free this summer: end of paid access

Casablanca’s sand is no longer for sale. Gone are the days of parasol and deck chair rental operators who monopolized the waterfront. Under the impetus of Mohamed Mhidia, regional governor, the calls for tenders for commercial exploitation of the coastline have been purely and simply cancelled. Motorists can also breathe easy: parking in the immediate vicinity of the waves is becoming free, sweeping away the system of touts in "yellow vests" in the process. According to Le360 reports, a local operator has confirmed the cancellation of their summer contract. A source close to the matter warns: "Casablanca’s beaches must remain public spaces open to all, without any payment being required to enjoy them".

On Bladi.net : Good news for vacationers: Casablanca beaches become 100% free!

This shock therapy is based on a full-scale test conducted last year south of the metropolis, in Dar Bouazza. Public authorities had demolished private installations to deploy straw shelters available on a first-come, first-served basis. While vacationers have regained the right to set up their own equipment freely, the sustainability of the operation requires strict controls.

Law enforcement must intensify their presence to prevent the return of profiteers or the proliferation of street vendors. Local administration is uncompromising: "No form of anarchic exploitation of the maritime public domain will be tolerated".

On Bladi.net : Casablanca: No More Paid Umbrellas and Chairs on Beaches This Summer

One last major obstacle remains to overcome: user behavior. The liberation of public spaces clashes head-on with the scourge of pollution. Glass bottles, plastic packaging and cans too often transform coves into open-air dumps. The phenomenon even reaches absurd proportions when families set up camping tents and camping stoves on the beach, leaving mountains of waste behind them. Faced with the exhaustion of cleaning teams working under the blazing sun, an activist summarizes the urgency: "The law must be enforced". The return to free access will require a surge of civic responsibility from citizens.