Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram Denver – The Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and water, and the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Administrative Reform have released a joint announcement detailing Morocco’s planned subsidies for tickets bought by returning Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs).
According to the press release, the announcement is the culmination of “royal instructions” focused on facilitating the return of Moroccan expatriates during this year’s Operation Marhaba initiative.
The decree revealed any returning Moroccan nationals who travelled by sea could qualify for a one-time repayment from the government of between MAD 1,000 and 3,000 ($111.51 and 334.54) to help cover sea fare costs. This initiative also complements an announcement earlier this year of reduced flight costs for Moroccan nationals from Royal Air Maroc, the country’s flagship airlines.
The ministry announced an official website to process reimbursement requests from Moroccans. It will allow any Moroccan passenger to submit a request for reimbursement efficiently via a computer or mobile device. Travellers will need to enter personal identification information as well as ticket information to be reviewed by the relevant Moroccan authorities.
The statement also specified that the reimbursement offer will not apply to travellers on board the Victoria 1 and Romantika ships that are currently being chartered by the Moroccan government as part of its plans to assist in the return of travelling Moroccans.
Sea travellers will be able to access Morocco from ports in southern France, as well as Italy during this year’s travel season. There have also been rumors of Morocco adding an additional ferry line from Portugal to Tangier, however political pressure from Spain has sidetracked these proposals.
Every year during the summer months, MREs travel in waves to Morocco to visit family and friends. Morocco’s government has worked to encourage the tradition to continue the tradition this year through various incentives, after last year’s plans were cancelled as a result of the pandemic.
Cities and businesses that participate in Operation Marhaba typically see a substantial increase in revenue during these months, as Moroccans travel through their city routes when returning to Morocco.
While sea routes have historically been primarily through Spain, the icy political relations between Rabat and Madrid have forced Morocco to find alternative routes of ferry travel this year.
