Northern beach towns brace for summer surge amid uneven preparations

As summer nears, Morocco’s northern coastal cities, Martil, M’diq, Fnideq, and parts of Tetoua, are gearing up for a major influx of tourists.

 Local authorities are rolling out measures to boost infrastructure, improve services, and ensure safety in what is expected to be another high-demand season, particularly in destinations favored by King Mohammed VI and millions of local and foreign visitors.

While preparations are visible in Martil and M’diq, persistent issues loom, overpriced rentals, overcrowded beaches, poor sanitation, and a chronic lack of parking and traffic control.

 Local voices stress the need for tighter price regulation, more public amenities, and serious investments in road and public space upgrades.

Civil society actors in Fnideq lamented the city’s neglect, citing urban decay, unmanaged homelessness, and a loss of touristic appeal, and questioned how the annual budgets vanish with little visible impact.