Rising Costs Drive Moroccan Tourists Abroad, Impacting Local Economy

According to the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights, many tourism operators are exploiting Moroccan consumers by offering them inferior quality services at exorbitant prices, reports L’Observateur du Maroc et d’Afrique. This situation has pushed a growing number of Moroccan tourists to prefer to spend their money in foreign countries, where similar services are found at much more competitive rates, the federation said.

To rectify the situation, the federation suggests aligning the prices of tourist services for Moroccans with those offered to foreign tourists, in order to make their vacations in their country more accessible. It also calls for the creation of tourist parks on beaches, in the mountains, and in the interior of the country, in order to make domestic tourism more attractive and accessible. Similarly, the federation recommends the establishment of an independent institution responsible for monitoring the quality of tourist services.

The federation also mentions the need to "fight against unscrupulous providers by strengthening the conditions for obtaining tourism accreditations, linking the latter to strict requirements for training and continuity in the quality of service." It also suggests "an active participation of consumer representatives in the classification commissions of tourist establishments, a role hitherto reserved for representatives of craftsmen".