Ourika Valley Scandal: Tourists Charged Extortionate Fees for Public Riverbank Access

According to the federation, these establishments, located in the commune of Setti Fatma, charge up to 70 dirhams per hour for access to these spaces. In addition, a teapot is billed at 30 dirhams and a tajine at 250 dirhams, all for an occupancy period that must not exceed one hour.

The federation states that these actions constitute illegal exploitation of the public domain. It specifies that the banks of the wadi belong to the water basin and that no private entity has the right to appropriate them or impose access fees.

These practices, in addition to being illegal, would harm the reputation of this tourist area, which is very popular with national and foreign visitors. The federation qualifies the situation as an "injustice" and believes that it requires the intervention of the public authorities.

Consequently, an appeal has been launched to the interim wali of the Marrakech-Safi region. He is asked to dispatch a specialized commission to ascertain the offenses and sanction those responsible. The objective is to protect the rights of visitors and ensure respect for the law, ensuring that the Ourika region remains an accessible space for all and not a place of financial exploitation.