Moroccan Expats Face Soaring Beach Prices, Dampening Summer Holidays

Grilled sardines at 100 dirhams, a glass of tea at 20 dirhams, parasol rental going from 100 to 200 dirhams, phone recharge from 10 to 13 dirhams. Many vacationers, the majority of whom are MREs, complain about the soaring prices charged by cafes, restaurants and shops on the Arekmane beach and the greed of their managers on the Nadorcity site. According to them, this behavior tarnishes the image of Moroccan tourism and undermines the reputation of the region as a tourist destination. They call on the authorities of Nador to stop the paralysis of the control committees and to mobilize them to save them from the ongoing exploitation in Arekmane.

Every summer, the Arekmane beach experiences a strong tourist influx. Tens of thousands of vacationers from different regions of Morocco and abroad rush daily to this beach, one of the largest Moroccan beaches on the Mediterranean coast, stretching over more than 3 kilometers of golden sand. But the practices of the merchants could lead to a slowdown in tourist activity in Arekmane and other Moroccan regions.