Marrakech Taxi Drivers to Protest Sector Challenges and Unauthorized Competition

In a press release quoted by Kech24, the office listed the many problems facing the sector, emphasizing "the intrusion of mixed transport in the urban area of Marrakech and the transport of passengers with impunity, in violation of the specifications of mixed transport, which is supposed to open up the rural world." It also denounces "the entry into service of several categories of unauthorized means of transport for the transport of people, in particular private cars via mobile applications, as well as tuk-tuks, motorcycles, bicycles, single or multiple-seat tricycles..."

The office also deplores "the refusal of the municipal council to respond to requests for the development of model stations dedicated to grand taxis in certain neighborhoods of the city, as well as in tourist and public infrastructures," blaming certain tourist transport companies for using intermediaries on the streets of the city, hotel reception centers and guest houses, violating their specifications, despite the sending of several letters and the holding of meetings with all the administrations concerned.

The office also denounces the diligent and rigorous implementation of the circulars of the minister in charge of the transport sector, regretting the absence of an official rate for the grand taxis operating in the city, particularly for the stations of the railway stations, the Supratours and CTM lines. In this sense, it has called on the competent authorities to find a solution to the problem of access for taxis to the Marrakech-Menara airport station.

The press release also criticizes the incompetence of the manager of the semi-automatic counter set up at the airport, the application of professional sanctions on the rates in the absence of a prefectural decree, as well as the indifference of the authorities to the request to modify the prefectural decrees No. 3326 and No. 280. It also denounces the permanent presence, at the headquarters of the province of Marrakech, of people claiming to be from unions, acting as mediators to settle the problems of the professionals in the sector. Finally, the office wished for the opening of a dialogue to reach a consensus on the issue of the 10-year life span of taxis.