Rabat – The Regional Tourism Delegation in Marrakech announced today that Moroccan Umrah pilgrims, who had been stranded in Turkiye due to a dispute with travel Agency KSAR TOURS, had finally returned home on Sunday.
In February, a group of Moroccan Umrah pilgrims said they were stranded in Turkiye after being defrauded by a travel agency.
Many Muslims perform Umrah, a voluntary minor pilgrimage to Mecca, during Ramadan.
The situation left dozens of Moroccans stranded in Turkiye after the agency failed to meet its obligations. The agency offered Umrah trips at MAD 23,000 per person, with pilgrims initially paying a deposit of MAD 5,000. Ahead of Ramadan, they completed the full payment and received receipts confirming they paid their obligations.
However, the agency was not able to fulfill their duties to the clients, due to a grave bureaucratic misstep.
The regional tourism delegation said it has been closely monitoring the case of the repatriated Moroccans in coordination with the Regional Association of Travel Agencies of Marrakech-Safi.
The monitoring procedure is part of the delegation mission to provide support for citizens in the application of Law 11.16, which regulates the travel agencies sector.
The delegation emphasized KSAR TOURS was requested to renew its travel organizer and distributor or ODV license in accordance with the legal procedures and measures in force.
“The agency’s failure to respond placed it in an ‘unauthorized’ status for practicing the travel agency profession,” the statement said.
The situation explains the agency’s absence from the official list published on the website of the Ministry of Tourism, which includes all licensed travel agencies.
The delegation called on all pilgrims and clients seeking travel agencies services to consult the ministry’s official website. This provides travelers with the updated list of authorized travel agencies in accordance with current regulations.
