Morocco Prepares for Smooth ’Marhaba 2022’ Transit as Diaspora Returns Home

"The Marhaba Operation, which is celebrated under the effective presidency of King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, is taking place this year under the best conditions, with a smooth flow of people and vehicles and a continuous rotation of boats between the ports of Algeciras and Tanger Med. This pace will evolve progressively, both in terms of passengers and vehicles, as we approach the month of July and the Eid al-Adha holiday," said Mohamed Rafaoui in an interview with Maroc Diplomatique.

To read: Algeciras Port Prepares for Surge in Moroccan Travelers as Marhaba 2022 Operation Begins

In terms of diplomatic advantages, the diplomat insisted that "this year’s operation, with the entry into service of the Spanish ports, after two years of suspension, due to the Covid-19 health crisis and then due to the tensions caused by the Spanish government’s hosting on its soil of the Polisario Front leader, denotes a return to normal bilateral relations between the two countries," after the change in the Spanish government’s position on the Sahara, marking "a restored understanding between the two countries."

Regarding the economic benefits, they are "numerous and very beneficial for both countries, especially in this period of global economic crisis," said Mohamed Rafaoui, stressing that "all the logistical and administrative arrangements have been put in place by the Moroccan and Spanish authorities to ensure the success of this large-scale operation which recorded more than three million people in 2019."

To read: Algeciras Port Prepares for Return of Morocco-Spain Summer Travel Operation

The Moroccan diplomat also indicated that "on the Moroccan side, the elements of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and the teams of the General Consulate are present at the level of the [...] ports of Genoa in Italy, Sète and Marseille in France, Almeria, Motril and Algeciras in Spain with a 24/7 presence." On the Spanish side, teams from the Red Cross, the Andalusian Health Service and the Civil Protection elements also have offices within the port of Algeciras, he noted.

And he concluded: "The Marhaba Operation is the ideal opportunity for Moroccan nationals, of the third and fourth generations, to reconnect with the motherland and reunite with the family... It is also an opportunity for tourists to get to know Morocco and discover its multiple facets and its cultural and artistic richness in order to dispel stereotypes and prejudices."