Over 3 million passengers and more than 705,000 vehicles traveled through Moroccan ports from June 5 to September 15, 2024, as part of the annual Operation Marhaba, Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil said on Monday in Rabat.
The program assists Moroccans living abroad who are returning home for summer vacations. The program recorded a significant increase over last year, with a 6% rise in passenger traffic and a 10% jump in vehicles.
Abdeljalil noted the success of Operation Marhaba 2024 during a meeting focused on the operation’s maritime component. This year, 70% of the passengers who traveled through Moroccan ports were Moroccans residing abroad.
The Moroccan government dedicated 29 ships, operated by seven companies, to serve routes connecting Moroccan ports to Spain, France, and Italy. The fleet offered over 535 weekly crossings and could transport up to 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles each week.
In addition to providing ample transport options, authorities monitored the quality of services on board ships and maintained oversight of ticket prices. The operation also required passengers to book tickets in advance, a measure that helped streamline travel and avoid ticket shortages, according to Abdeljalil.
The minister said that a series of safety and operational checks were carried out to ensure that all vessels met national and international safety standards. In addition, the country built new infrastructure, including the extension of docks at Nador’s maritime terminal and the construction of a new terminal at the same port.
“The coordination between national and international partners played a key role in ensuring the smooth execution of this operation,” Abdeljalil said.