Morocco Prepares for Annual Influx of 3.2 Million Expatriates in ’Marhaba 2019’ Operation

This year, Morocco should welcome some 3.2 million Moroccans living abroad and at least 740,000 vehicles, which is why the Moroccan-Spanish joint commission met in Madrid. This meeting was attended by the Red Cross and Red Crescent, shipping companies, port authorities from both countries as well as representatives from the ministries in charge of this operation, which the Spaniards call OPE (Operación Paso del Estrecho - Operation of the Strait crossing).

Many Moroccans living abroad are expected this year in the country, especially since the Eid al-Adha feast will be celebrated in August, in the middle of the summer holidays.

It should be noted that 9 Spanish ports will participate in this operation: Algeciras, Tarifa, Alicante, Almeria, Malaga, Motril, Valencia, Ceuta and Melilla, ports that will be served by 34 boats belonging to 34 shipping companies. The operation managers are counting on a record influx from July 27 to 30, August 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, as well as at the end of August. It will be remembered that last year tens of thousands of Moroccans living abroad had to wait up to 48 hours in Tangier to hope to take a boat.

As in previous years, the interchangeability of tickets will be operational between the shipping companies, allowing the first to arrive to take the available boat. This allows, according to the authorities, to streamline traffic, but harms those who had booked their boat in advance.