Moroccan Expats Shun Summer Homecoming as Tourism Prices Soar

The destination Morocco did not attract Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) this summer. Between June 13 and August 15, about 1.33 million MREs and 317,000 vehicles entered the kingdom as part of the Marhaba Operation, according to official data. Also, nearly 570,000 MREs and 130,000 vehicles transited through Moroccan ports to their country of residence (return phase), compared to two million MREs during the same period last year.

This lack of enthusiasm from MREs for the Moroccan destination this year is explained by the exaggerated rise in prices and the poor quality of tourism services. According to a professional in the sector, the drop in the number of MRE arrivals this summer will certainly affect the tourism activity of the kingdom. In a statement to the site Al3omk, he recalled that MRE arrivals increased between 2022 and 2023, after the reopening of borders following the Covid-19 health crisis.

But the unjustified rise in prices has dampened the desire of MREs this year. "It is necessary to find a solution to the rise in prices, but the law on freedom of prices allows service providers to set the prices they wish, which leaves the law of supply and demand to regulate the market," regrets the former general manager of the National Confederation of Tourism, who stresses that this surge in prices is damaging to the image and reputation of Morocco as a competitive tourist destination.

"These practices concern a small part of the hotel sector actors, who take advantage of the summer season to increase the prices of their products without reason," added Tahiri, calling on the competent authorities to strengthen price controls and take measures to put an end to their rise. Economist Omar Kettani will specify for his part that this general rise in prices risks reducing the remittances of MREs and nullifying the efforts of the State which aims to welcome more than 20 million tourists during the 2030 World Cup.