Moroccan Expats Face High Costs, Travel Hurdles for Summer Return Home

"Many Moroccan families find themselves this year unable" to return to Morocco to spend their holidays or celebrate Eid al-Adha "due to excessively high expenses," notes MP Imane Lamaoui in a question addressed to the Minister of Tourism. She mentions in particular the surge in airfare prices. "Taking as an example the inhabitants of southeastern Morocco that I represent. There is not a family that is not waiting for one or more people from its family diaspora. However, this rise in ticket prices will deter them from returning," explained the elected representative of the Draa-Tafilalet region.

The other difficulty facing MREs and their families is the PCR tests. "There are MRE families composed of several members, who find themselves obliged to undergo Covid-19 PCR tests, which undoubtedly adds to the burden of these families with more unforeseen expenses," commented Imane Lamaoui. "In these economic conditions that the country is going through, we must urgently facilitate the travel of our community, which has demonstrated its persistence and its aid to its country, particularly during the Covid-19 health crisis," she launched.

In a statement to Hespress, Zoubir Bouhouth, an expert in the field of tourism, believes that only the recourse to the program ordered by King Mohammed VI and implemented last year could facilitate the return of MREs to Morocco this summer. The sovereign had ordered in June 2021 all stakeholders in the air and maritime transport sector to practice reasonable prices in order to facilitate the return of MREs.