Saïdia Tourism Crisis: Why Moroccan Expats Choose Other Beaches

Saïdia is struggling to fill up this July. While beaches in northern Morocco and along the Atlantic coast are particularly busy, the Oriental region’s seaside resort is experiencing significantly more limited tourist and commercial activity.

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Café, restaurant, and shop owners say the season is falling short of their expectations. They notably observe the absence of many Moroccan expats living abroad, who traditionally represented an important customer base during summer vacations.

According to Rue20, this decline in visitor numbers is notably explained by the high cost of accommodation and tourist services, in a context of declining purchasing power for many families.

MRE Choose Other Beaches

Professionals on the ground also mention the lack of investment in public spaces, leisure activities, and family-oriented facilities. Faced with this insufficient offering, some vacationers, including MRE, would prefer to turn to coastal destinations offering more activities and a better ratio between prices and service quality.

Several visitors also complain about the occupation of certain parts of public land, the chaotic organization of beach services, and practices that complicate the use of common spaces.

The contrast is visible with other resorts in the Kingdom, where beaches record high attendance and where it sometimes becomes difficult to find a free spot. A situation that raises questions for local stakeholders, as Saïdia has a long beach and significant natural assets.

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To regain its appeal, professionals are calling for better price control, more investment in leisure facilities, and stricter enforcement of beach rules and surrounding areas. They believe these measures are necessary to bring families and MRE back during the next summer seasons.