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Rabat — With the approach of the summer travel season, concerns over the unauthorized exploitation of public spaces have resurfaced in Morocco, following the circulation of a video from the Sefrou waterfalls that has reignited a public debate over access to natural sites.
The video, shared online by a visitor, shows an individual recounting his experience at the waterfalls, where he was allegedly asked to pay an entry fee for his vehicle. Faced with the demand, the visitor says he chose to proceed on foot instead of paying.
In his account, he reports being told that the area had been “rented from the authorities,” a justification he questions, raising concerns about the legality of such practices and the regulatory framework governing access to public natural sites.
The visitor also refers to similar experiences at other locations, including Sidi Hrazem and various recreational areas, suggesting that such practices are not isolated but increasingly common during periods of high tourist activity.
Another video circulating online has sparked controversy in the Oum Er-Rbia springs after visitors reported an unusual practice at the site. According to the footage and accompanying accounts, a group of young individuals allegedly constructed a wooden passageway and began charging visitors a fee of two dirhams to cross it.
The situation has raised questions about the management of public natural spaces and the emergence of informal practices that limit free access to sites traditionally enjoyed by the public.
The issue extends beyond natural sites, as the video also highlights complaints about informal payment demands in public parking spaces on streets. In some cases, individuals wearing reflective vests are reportedly requesting money from drivers despite the absence of formal parking infrastructure or official authorization, according to testimonies shared online.
The situation has sparked renewed debate on social media over the management and protection of public spaces, particularly during the summer season when domestic tourism peaks and natural sites attract large numbers of visitors.
Many users argue that such practices risk turning leisure trips into frustrating experiences, calling for clearer enforcement of regulations and stronger oversight to prevent the misuse of public spaces for informal financial gain.
As discussions continue online, the incident at Sefrou waterfalls has become part of a broader conversation about access rights, public space governance, and the growing tension between tourism development and informal local practices during Morocco’s peak travel season.
