Casablanca – More than 3 million passengers, including 70% Moroccan expatriates, and 705,000 vehicles transited through Morocco’s ports from June 5 to September 15 as part of Operation Marhaba 2024. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil, who highlighted the continued growth of the operation compared to previous years.

During an extensive meeting held in Rabat to evaluate the results of this year’s operation, Abdeljalil revealed a 6% increase in passengers and a 10% rise in vehicles compared to the 2023 operation. These numbers reflect the ongoing success of the operation, which is critical for ensuring smooth travel for millions of Moroccans, especially those residing abroad, during the busy summer season.

To accommodate this large flow of travelers, the Ministry of Transport mobilized 29 ships from seven different companies operating across various maritime routes linking Morocco with Spain, France, and Italy. This strategy helped secure more than 535 weekly crossings, with a maximum capacity of 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles per week.

Abdeljalil emphasized that these efforts were part of a broader plan to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, improve coordination between national and international stakeholders, and enhance the quality of services provided on board the ships. The ministry also implemented pre-booking systems for tickets across all maritime routes involved in Operation Marhaba, which helped avoid congestion and the need for ticket interchangeability.

The minister also praised the hard work and coordination of all involved parties at both national and bilateral levels, attributing much of the operation’s success to this collaborative approach.

In addition, Amine El Karam, Director of Port Police at the National Ports Agency, highlighted specific efforts made at the ports of Nador and Al Hoceima to facilitate the transit of Moroccan expatriates. These efforts included infrastructure improvements such as the extension of docks and the completion of new facilities at Nador, along with mobilizing necessary human resources in cooperation with other agencies.

The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, brought together representatives from Moroccan and international maritime transport companies, as well as Moroccan port authorities, to review the operation’s success and discuss ways to further improve future campaigns.

Operation Marhaba continues to play a vital role in managing the movement of millions of Moroccans and ensuring that their journeys back home remain safe, efficient, and smooth year after year.