Spanish Enclave Melilla Seeks New Ferry Route to Attract Algerian Tourists

Attracting Algerian tourists from the border regions with Morocco. This is the whole interest of Mr. Gamero’s initiative. He has already asked the regional governor Eduardo de Castro for support for a maritime service project with Algeria. His intention is to succeed in convincing the Spanish authorities of the need to open a maritime line between Melilla and the Algerian port of Ghazaouet, reports the local newspaper Melilla Hoy.

The president of the port authority also asks that Algerians be granted the same facilities as Moroccan citizens, that is, visa-free access as is the case for other Spanish ports. "What we want is for the same regime that we have with Morocco to be applied with Algeria in order to allow its citizens to access with just their passport or a simple multiple exit visa for Melilla," he explains.

Justifying the merits of the project, the initiator highlights the proximity of the port of Ghazaouet, which is only about 96 kilometers from the enclave. He is convinced that his project will bring Algerians and Spaniards closer together. Since the closure of the land borders between Algeria and Morocco since 1994 has prevented Algerians from entering Melilla.