Moroccan Expats Face Potential Port Congestion as Summer Travel Peaks

A significant influx of MREs and vehicles is expected this weekend. Given these forecasts, Civil Protection and the Spanish authorities recommend planning travel in advance on the roads that mainly converge in Algeciras and, if possible, using alternative routes. MREs and other travelers are invited to be attentive to any incidents and to follow the instructions of the DGT authorities at all times. They are also asked to present their already purchased ticket to facilitate port management. The Directorate General of Civil Protection has also strengthened the Special Plan for the Marhaba operation and activated the various provincial plans, in order to guarantee the greatest possible fluidity.

As for the mid-term assessment of Marhaba 2024? In total, 428,117 vehicles crossed the Strait of Gibraltar during the departure phase, an increase of 9.6% compared to 2023, and 1,695,731 passengers, an increase of 6.9% compared to the previous year. As for the return phase, which covers the period from July 13 to September 15, 1,218,535 passengers and 290,422 vehicles have already crossed the strait. On the port side, nearly 46% of the embarkations carried out during this period were from the port of Tangier-Med to Algeciras.