Title: Morocco Courts Tourists to Western Sahara Amidst Accusations of Consolidating Authority

In March, an email from Irish carrier Ryanair appeared in my inbox, prompting me to consider my “next Moroccan adventure.” The destination in question, Dakhla, is situated on a windswept peninsula where the Sahara Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, presenting an appealing landscape. While the journey requires a preliminary stop in Madrid, return flights from the Spanish capital to Dakhla are available for as little as €30 (£26). The area boasts a wide array of lodging choices, ranging from budget hostels to newly constructed luxury resorts that market the region as Morocco’s “hidden gem.”

However, despite the promotional materials and websites, travelers booking these trips are entering one of the world’s most protracted territorial conflicts. Dakhla lies within Western Sahara, a region the United Nations designates as a “non-self-governing territory.” This classification indicates that the local population lacks self-governance. Approximately 80% of Western Sahara is currently occupied and administered by Morocco, its northern neighbor. Rabat regards the area as an integral part of its sovereign domain, referring to it as the “southern provinces.”

For five decades, the UN has advocated for a resolution to the dispute, including the organization of a referendum, yet the indigenous inhabitants have never been granted the opportunity to vote on their political future. According to human rights organizations and legal specialists speaking to the BBC, labeling Western Sahara as Moroccan territory raises significant issues under international law and serves to legitimize Morocco’s occupation. The Moroccan government declined to comment when asked for a statement.

Data from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism reveals a surge in visitor numbers to the Moroccan-controlled sections of Western Sahara, increasing by over 50% in the last seven years. Figures rose from 490,297 in 2019 to 743,133 in 2025. This growth is largely driven by an expansion in air connectivity. In addition to the national carrier Royal Air Maroc, airlines such as Ryanair, Transavia France, and Binter Canarias now provide direct services from Madrid, Paris, and the Canary Islands, respectively.

Tom Ruck, a 29-year-old tourist from the UK, recently traveled to Dakhla from Madrid via Ryanair. He noted that while many resorts are under construction, they remain largely vacant. Ruck observed that while there were other tourists present for summer family holidays, the sector “definitely felt like it was in its infancy.” He received a stamp in his passport from Moroccan authorities and noted that the Moroccan flag is prominently displayed throughout the city.

The Moroccan state has recently poured significant resources into developing tourism in Western Sahara, a move that has enticed airlines to include these destinations in their networks. Both Ryanair and Transavia France list locations within Western Sahara as part of Morocco. A representative for Transavia France stated the company “operates flights to Dakhla in accordance with the authorisations received from the authorities.” Ryanair did not respond to requests for comment. Conversely, Binter Canarias, the flag carrier of Spain’s Canary Islands, distinguishes itself by referring to the area as Western Sahara. It operates routes to both Dakhla and Laayoune, the territory’s largest city.

Erik Hagen from the campaign group Western Sahara Resource Watch criticized airlines that classify the territory as Moroccan, calling the practice both misleading and concerning. “When companies market destinations there as Moroccan, they risk contributing to a distortion of international law and public understanding,” he explained. He further argued that this approach raises “serious questions about corporate responsibility and due diligence in politically sensitive and illegally occupied territories.”

A search for accommodation in Western Sahara on major international platforms such as Expedia, Booking.com, and Trivago also typically labels the hotel locations as being in Morocco. Regarding this practice, a Booking.com spokesperson stated: “If a particular region can be categorized as disputed or impacted by conflict, we add information to our platform”

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-24 23:13:50 UTC