Consumer protection groups in Morocco are calling on authorities to intensify inspections during the summer holiday season, warning of rising complaints over inflated prices, health violations, and consumer fraud.
The regional consumer rights federation in the Souss-Massa region said it receives a significant uptick in complaints each summer, particularly from June through September. Most complaints involve soaring hotel and restaurant prices, which consumer advocates describe as unjustified.
Abdelkrim Chafai, head of the regional federation, told local media that additional reports involve cases of food poisoning and fraudulent practices, especially in the sale of fresh fish at ports like Agadir. Chafai noted that incidents of foodborne illness rise during the hot summer months, largely due to poor storage conditions and a lack of compliance with hygiene standards.
“Some of these complaints even come from foreign tourists,” he said. “Add to that the growing issue of unauthorized sun umbrella rentals on public beaches and the chaos in car parking areas, problems that persist every summer despite repeated warnings.”
Chafai called on public institutions, including the National Food Safety Office and local health and economic departments, to step up monitoring of food and service providers. He stressed that tighter enforcement is essential as the country prepares to host major international events in the coming years.
Bouazza Kharrati, president of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Associations, echoed the concerns, saying the transportation and hospitality sectors are particularly problematic. He cited excessive price hikes in intercity travel and poor hygiene conditions in some hotels and restaurants.
“Many domestic tourists face serious issues, including arbitrary cancellation of reservations and pressure to pay in full upfront,” Kharrati said. “This amounts to a form of discrimination against Moroccan tourists.”
Kharrati said weak enforcement stems from the overlapping roles of various regulatory bodies and called for the creation of a unified national consumer protection agency. “There’s a lack of coordination, and it’s the consumer who ends up paying the price,” he said.
Until such structural reforms are implemented, both Chafai and Kharrati urged consumers to remain vigilant. They called on the public to report violations and carefully choose the services they use.
“Ultimately, when providers start losing customers because of negligence or noncompliance, they’ll be forced to raise their standards,” Kharrati said.
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