Record Number of Moroccan Expats Expected to Return via Spanish Ports This Summer

Almería is expecting a massive return of MREs this year compared to last year when traffic increased by 8.3%, reaching more than 500,000 travelers. To manage the significant influx of MREs and streamline traffic, the second largest Spanish port after Algeciras has planned up to 59 weekly rotations, said the president of the Port Authority of Almería, Rosario Soto.

In order to provide a warm welcome to the MREs and facilitate their transit, the port of Almería has invested 621,300 euros, an increase of 15% compared to last year, to rehabilitate its infrastructure. "We have expanded the waiting and rest areas," Soto assured, adding that 2,500 parking spaces for cars and more than 100 spaces for buses have been set up.

Similarly, "a hundred agents, including 54 port police officers" will be deployed for this edition, the official continued, indicating that the automatic sound systems and air conditioning have been renovated, mobile phone charging stations and WIFI have been installed, as well as prayer areas, a nursery or play areas for children.

This year, several thousand MREs residing in Spain, Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands have already purchased tickets for Almeria, it is announced. The Spanish government delegate in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández, expects "a 6% increase in the number of vehicles and a 4% increase in the number of passengers" compared to 2023 when 3.14 million MREs transited through the Andalusian ports (Algeciras, Almería, Tarifa, Malaga, Motril).