The Migration Crisis in Ceuta Begins to Affect Tourism in Morocco
A trip to Morocco planned for December for fifteen Spanish women has been cancelled. Frightened by the migration crisis in Ceuta, the participants preferred to withdraw, while several agencies in Zaragoza are reporting a slowdown in bookings to the kingdom.
The crisis in Ceuta is producing its first effects on tourism in Morocco. In Zaragoza, an agency was preparing a tour for fifteen women aged between 55 and 70. The trip was scheduled to take place in December, but the clients’ concerns led to the project’s cancellation.
“Many of them called me because they were worried about the political situation. They were nervous and afraid to leave,” Elisa Molina, the agency’s director, explains to Aragón Digital.
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The planned tour was not supposed to go near Ceuta or the border area. That was not enough to reassure the travelers. Faced with the withdrawals and concerns expressed, the agency ultimately cancelled the entire trip, including the air reservations.
Spanish agencies are waiting for September 20
This case does not make it possible to conclude that there is a nationwide wave of cancellations. Nevertheless, it represents an initial signal in the Aragonese tourism sector. Other agencies contacted say that demand for Morocco is currently “somewhat at a standstill” and that some promotional operations with their Moroccan partners have been put on hold.
“We are all waiting to see what happens on September 20,” a professional tells El Español. This date is associated with new calls circulated on social media concerning Ceuta and Melilla, whose actual scope remains difficult to assess.
The agencies’ caution comes after the mass crossings recorded on July 30 and 31. The Spanish services, which had initially identified around 2,000 people seeking to cross, ultimately counted 72,000 crossings. Madrid had also warned the Moroccan services the day before the influx.
Spanish conclusions regarding responsibility remain contradictory. A National Police report accused Moroccan agents of facilitating movements toward the border, while a separate analysis by the Guardia Civil found no evidence linking the online mobilization to the Moroccan government. The judicial investigation is continuing.
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Ceuta itself is already suffering a much greater tourism backlash. According to a report by its Chamber of Commerce cited by the Spanish press, 90% of the trips planned in the city for the end of summer are said to have been cancelled.
For the kingdom, the impact therefore remains limited at this stage: one trip for fifteen people cancelled and a slowdown reported by agencies in Zaragoza. But the episode shows that the border crisis is beginning to change the perception of some Spanish travelers, including when their stay is supposed to take place far from Ceuta.
