Visa-free destinations are leading Moroccan travelers’ choices this summer, while traditional destinations such as Turkey and Egypt continue to attract interest and some European markets requiring visas are seeing growing demand, particularly southern Spain, Andalusia and Portugal, according to Morocco’s National Federation of Travel Agencies.
The federation said the booking trends observed through the first week of August point to continued strong demand for destinations that do not require visas, although some European destinations subject to visa requirements are also attracting an increasing number of Moroccan travelers.
Mohamed Semlali, president of the National Federation of Travel Agencies, said the ease of travel procedures remains a decisive factor when Moroccans choose their summer destinations.
“Destinations that do not require a visa remain at the top of Moroccans’ choices,” Semlali told Hespress, adding that traditional destinations including Turkey, Egypt and several Asian countries continue to feature among travelers’ preferences.
However, demand for some of these destinations has varied because of the current situation in the Middle East and the difficulties affecting travel routes. Semlali noted that several flights to destinations in the region involve stopovers in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Turkey.
He said destinations with no visa requirement, or those where obtaining a visa is relatively straightforward compared with European countries and the United States, remain particularly attractive to Moroccan travelers.
European destinations still drawing interest
Despite the preference for easier travel procedures, some European destinations requiring visas are also attracting growing interest.
The federation identified southern Spain, Andalusia and Portugal among the European destinations that have continued to generate demand during the summer season.
The federation stressed that more precise figures would be needed before drawing definitive conclusions about the overall summer travel market, but said the booking patterns recorded so far indicate a clear preference for destinations where visa procedures are less restrictive.
The trend highlights the importance of visa requirements in shaping Moroccan travel decisions, particularly during the peak summer season, when travelers are looking for destinations that can be reached with fewer administrative hurdles.
Travel agencies warn of social media scams
At the same time, the federation warned Moroccans about the growing number of social media pages and accounts offering travel-related services without being affiliated with licensed travel agencies.
Semlali said the problem has existed for years, particularly with Facebook pages operating outside the framework of officially registered tourism companies and agencies. He said the phenomenon intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Professionals have tried to raise the issue with the relevant authorities, but efforts to curb these practices have not achieved the desired results,” he said.
The expansion of these unofficial services has made it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish between licensed agencies and unauthorized operators, according to Semlali.
He warned that some social media pages use names and descriptions designed to make them appear affiliated with legitimate travel agencies, potentially exposing customers to fraud.
The federation has recorded cases involving fake or nonexistent travel packages, with victims subsequently forced to resort to legal and judicial procedures after discovering that the services they had paid for did not exist.
Semlali called for greater intervention by the ministry responsible for the sector and its regional offices, as well as a review of the legislation governing travel agencies.
Such changes, he argued, could help better regulate the market and make it easier for consumers to distinguish between licensed and unauthorized operators.
He also said the situation creates unfair competition for licensed agencies, which must comply with legal, tax and professional obligations while other operators provide similar services outside the regulatory framework.
Agencies reject criticism over value of services
Semlali also rejected criticism that Moroccan travel agencies generally provide services of lower value than foreign agencies offering similar packages at comparable prices.
He argued that the quality and cost of a travel package cannot be attributed entirely to the agency selling it.
A travel agent, for example, does not directly control the quality of hotel services, which are selected according to the customer’s preferences, he said.
Semlali also stressed that the price of a travel service cannot be separated from the obligations and costs borne by licensed agencies.
The comments come as Moroccan travelers continue to navigate a summer tourism market in which visa requirements, ease of travel, geopolitical developments and the reliability of travel providers are all influencing destination choices.
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