Massive Influx of Moroccan Travelers Causes Gridlock in Spanish Port Cities

For several years, Tarifa has experienced an exceptional influx of tourists and Moroccans from Europe in transit in the city as part of the Marhaba Operation. The phenomenon, which is not new, creates traffic jams and inconveniences for the residents of the city, reports El País.

During the month of July, the province of Cádiz recorded a tourist occupancy rate of 84.01% (23,216 out of 24,013 available places in hotels), according to data from the Federation of Hotel Companies of the province of Cádiz (Horeca). Tarifa is one of the municipalities that did not reach 80%. However, massive traffic jams were noted throughout the day.

The cause, the project to transform the N-340 road and in particular the Algeciras-Tarifa-Vejer section into a dual carriageway, which is struggling to materialize, said mayor Jose Antonio Santos (PP), in statements to TVE. The government, for its part, has planned 94.6 million euros to rehabilitate the Tres Caminos intersection and build a two-way road between Chiclana and San Fernando, giving access to the beach and often congested during the summer.

But these rehabilitations will not solve the problem of tourist congestion in Tarifa. For more than four years, the famous Bolonia beach has been crowded during the day on several days during the summer season. The Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) is trying to find solutions to this influx of travelers, without however affecting tourism in the city.