Moroccan Tourist Hotspot Sparks Outrage Over Steep Parking Fees in Akchour

The Moroccan driver is surprised to have been charged 44 dirhams for just the duration of his visit. He accompanied his post with a photo of the payment receipt. According to him, the rate is high and unjustified. On the web, the comments are pouring in. The price is "exaggerated and requires the intervention of the authorities to organize this type of parking, especially in tourist areas," some say. Activists fear that such pricing may turn into a means of exploitation.

They call on the local authorities to officially regulate these services, to set a reasonable ceiling for the rates, and to ensure transparency in the management of the revenues, especially if it is provided by local associations or cooperatives. For many of them, parking lots in tourist areas should not be a source of inconvenience or surprise for visitors, but should be accompanied by clear and displayed rates at the entrance, in order to guarantee the rights of the tourist and the managing body.

Others, however, believe that this is a "reasonable pricing considering the services provided and the duration of the parking which exceeded 10 hours, i.e. an average of 4 dirhams per hour." They justify this rate by the fact that the parking lot is located in an organized, developed area, close to the entrance of the waterfall, tourist facilities and restaurants. The purpose of setting this rate is to organize traffic and reduce the disorder that could result from congestion in the main square, they explain, stressing that the local associations in charge of managing the parking lot work on arranging the space, cleaning it and offering a minimum of comfort to visitors, without however assuming the responsibility of providing the necessities.

They also let it be known that there are free spaces at a relatively distant distance that visitors can use if they do not wish to pay the parking fee.