Rental prices for furnished apartments and other tourism-related services have risen sharply in Martil and neighboring beaches in Morocco’s M’diq-Fnideq prefecture as the summer vacation season reaches its peak, putting additional pressure on families seeking affordable accommodation during August.
A Hespress field visit found a sharp increase in apartment rental prices in Martil, particularly for properties near the beach or along the waterfront. Apartments that rented for MAD 250 to MAD 300 per night during the winter can now cost as much as MAD 1,000 per night during the peak summer season, particularly in Cabo Negro.
Prices for apartments farther from the waterfront have also increased, with nightly rates generally ranging from MAD 400 to MAD 600, depending on the location, condition and amenities.
The price increases have extended to other tourism-related services. Prices for some fast-food meals, as well as tea and coffee, have also risen, with some beverages costing nearly MAD 4 more than during the winter. The increases have added to the overall cost of vacations for Moroccan families spending several days in the area.
In M’diq, rental prices have also climbed. Apartments near the main avenue cost around MAD 400 per night, while properties in side streets typically range from MAD 250 to MAD 300.
Tourist residences with swimming pools charge between MAD 700 and MAD 800 per night, while rates at some higher-end properties exceed MAD 1,000.
A real estate intermediary in Martil attributed the increases primarily to the surge in demand during August, when the northern coast’s Tamuda Bay area attracts large numbers of holidaymakers.
The intermediary told Hespress that many apartment owners prefer renting to families, whom they consider more likely to take care of the properties and comply with accommodation rules. As a result, young single travelers often face difficulties finding accommodation, even when they are willing to pay the asking price.
The intermediary said real estate agents receive daily inquiries from young people seeking accommodation in Martil and M’diq, but many encounter refusals from property owners.
The issue, he said, has become a recurring feature of the summer rental market in the two coastal cities.
A visitor from Fez told Hespress that rental prices often do not reflect the quality of the furnished apartments being offered.
Some properties, he said, have worn-out furniture, peeling paint and poor hygiene despite charging significantly higher rates during the summer.
He said some landlords were asking for more than MAD 1,000 per night for apartments whose condition did not justify the price. Families, he added, often have little choice but to accept such conditions because of limited accommodation options during the peak season, particularly for those seeking properties near the beach.
Some real estate intermediaries interviewed by Hespress said the increases in accommodation and service prices had, in some cases, gone beyond what could be explained by normal supply and demand.
They described some of the practices as “seasonal opportunism” and warned that excessive price increases could hurt domestic tourism.
The intermediaries said rising costs were prompting some Moroccan families to choose less expensive destinations instead. They called for a balance between the economic benefits of the summer season and the purchasing power of holidaymakers to ensure the sustainability of tourism activity and preserve the appeal of northern Morocco’s coastal destinations.
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