Up to 100 dirhams to sit by the river and 20 dirhams to park your car. A consumer association denounces the prices charged in Ourika and, above all, the appropriation of natural areas that are normally accessible to the public.
In northern Morocco, hotel rooms are reaching nearly 5,000 dirhams per night. Facing this price surge , some families are giving up their usual destinations between Tétouan and Fnideq and prefer to spend their vacations in Spain.
Despite the heat and peak summer season, Saïdia is experiencing lower-than-expected visitor numbers. Local merchants are notably concerned about a worrying decline in Moroccan expats (MRE), who are traditionally essential to the seaside resort’s economic activity.
The return of MREs gives summer a boost in the Oriental region. In Nador, Saïdia and neighboring cities, restaurants, cafés, shops, hotels and beaches are already benefiting from the influx linked to Operation Marhaba 2026.
Faced with soaring food and fuel prices, Moroccan consumer habits are undergoing radical transformation. Non-essential purchases are being sacrificed in favor of strict budget management, primarily affecting leisure and shopping.
For their holidays in Morocco, Moroccans continue to overwhelmingly favor the road. The car dominates the train and plane in tourist travel within the country.
Despite inflation affecting hotels and restaurants, enthusiasm for summer vacations remains strong in Morocco. Driven by social pressure, many families are increasingly willing to go into debt to display an idealized lifestyle.
Moroccan vacations remain heavily concentrated in summer. July and August alone account for nearly 40% of trips, confirming the weight of high season in domestic tourism.
While Moroccan tourists are increasingly traveling to Spain, Catalonia is following the opposite trend. The region lost Moroccan visitors in 2024, unlike Andalusia and Madrid.
In Rabat, the opening of the summer season at the main swimming pool comes with a price increase. Entry fees rise from 10 to 15 dirhams for those over six years old, sparking anger among low-income families.
Andalusia remains by far the preferred Spanish destination for Moroccan tourists. Its proximity to Morocco, its beaches and shopping opportunities continue to attract a rapidly growing clientele.
Moroccan tourists are increasingly traveling to Spain. And most importantly, they spend more than the average of foreign visitors.