Record Number of Moroccan Expatriates Return Home for Summer 2023

Launched on June 15, Operation Marhaba 2023 has broken records. Its outward phase ended on August 15, with 1,585,693 passengers and 390,736 vehicles recorded, representing increases of 11% and 11.7% respectively compared to 2022, according to figures from the northern shore. As of August 15, some 1.2 million Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) and 260,000 vehicles entered Morocco (Ceuta, Tanger Med and Tanger Ville) from the Spanish ports of Algeciras and Tarifa, recording increases of 8.9% and 7.7% respectively compared to the previous year’s phase. In detail, Tanger Med welcomed more than 450,000 passengers, with the passage of more than 68,000 cars, an increase of 45% compared to last year as part of this first phase of Operation Marhaba 2023.

During the busiest weekend of the year (July 29-30) coinciding with the last four days of July, the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa, which handle more than 70% of the total maritime traffic of the Marhaba operation at the Spanish level, recorded more than 133,000 passengers, a figure practically equivalent to the population recorded in these two municipalities. A similar situation on the first weekend of August, as well as the weekends of July 16 and 23, where an average of around 30,000 passengers and 7,000 vehicles were recorded on the busiest days. Records were also broken at the end of June. A period that coincided with the celebration of Eid al-Adha (June 28 to July 2).

Operation Marhaba will continue until September 15. "Regarding the return phase, which will start in the coming days, and in order to ensure a smooth and secure passage for passengers in all Moroccan ports, the ministry recommends that all travelers wishing to return to their country of residence book their travel tickets with confirmation of the date and time for all maritime lines, including Tanger Med, Tanger Ville, Algeciras and Tarifa. In case of change in the travel date specified on the ticket, the persons concerned are invited to contact the company concerned remotely before arriving at the port, in order to avoid any possible congestion at the port level," said the Moroccan Ministry of Transport and Logistics.