Moroccan Diaspora Returns to Europe as Summer Travel Season Winds Down

Indeed, the school year is fast approaching in the travelers’ countries of origin, particularly in Morocco where schools generally open their doors in early September. This school calendar, coupled with that of the European countries, largely explains the sustained pace of crossings during the summer, reports El faro de Melilla.

If the crossings are less numerous in recent weeks, this is not a new phenomenon. Every year, we observe a significant slowdown after August 15. The reasons are multiple: families have already joined their loved ones, temperatures are starting to cool in northern Europe and vacations are coming to an end for many.

In Melilla, for example, where the school year is scheduled to start on September 9, residents seem to prefer Spanish tourist destinations like Malaga or Almería rather than crossing the strait. The ports are less and less frequented, and the rare crossings rather concern returns to the peninsula.

This drop in activity does not mean the end of migratory flows between Europe and Morocco. Experts agree that crossings will resume with a vengeance on weekends, particularly due to Morocco’s strategy to develop tourism and trade in the border regions. By favoring entries through Moroccan ports, Rabat seeks to reduce the pressure on the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and to limit long waits at the borders.

This evolution could be part of a larger project to develop the "Greater Morocco", aimed at strengthening the kingdom’s influence in the region. By concentrating migratory flows on its own ports, Morocco aims to better control exchanges and strengthen its economic attractiveness.