Melilla Tightens Tourism Aid Rules to Exclude Moroccan Diaspora Transit Travelers

The measure, announced by the first deputy president and tourism councillor of Melilla, Miguel Marín (PP), aims to ensure that the aid benefits exclusively tourists visiting the autonomous city, and not Moroccans of the diaspora in transit to their country of origin during this summer period, as part of Operation Marhaba. In the new formula of this aid program, only persons legally residing in the European Union, with the exception of residents of Melilla, will be able to benefit from the reductions. Furthermore, only tourist trips are considered, reports Ok Diario.

The program provides for a 75% reduction on boat and plane tickets to and from Melilla. It applies to ferries departing from the ports of Malaga, Almeria or Motril (Granada), with ceilings of 50 euros per seat and 100 euros per individual cabin, depending on the type of accommodation on board, and for flights departing from Madrid, Barcelona and other continental airports, with the exception of the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Ceuta, with a ceiling of 400 euros per round-trip ticket. From Malaga, the ceiling is 160 euros, and 120 euros for flights declared as public service obligations (OSP), such as those from Seville, Granada or Almeria.

Tourism aid also includes reductions on accommodation during the stay, in particular 40 euros per night in 4-star hotels, 30 euros in 3-star hotels and 10 euros in other types of tourist establishments. By tightening the conditions for granting this aid, the Melilla authorities are determined to achieve the initial objective of this program, which is to attract visitors and stimulate the local economy.