Title: Morocco Promotes Western Sahara as Tourist Destination Amidst Accusations of Consolidating Power

In March, an email arrived in my inbox from Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, querying whether I was prepared for my "next Moroccan adventure." The destination, Dakhla, is situated on a windswept peninsula where the Sahara Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, presenting a visually compelling landscape. Although the journey requires a layover in Madrid, return flights from the Spanish capital to Dakhla are priced as low as €30 (£26). The region also boasts a wide array of lodging choices, ranging from budget hostels to newly constructed luxury resorts that market the area as a hidden gem within Morocco.

However, beneath the promotional veneer lies a complex geopolitical reality: Dakhla is located in Western Sahara, a region identified by the United Nations as one of the world’s most protracted territorial disputes. The UN categorizes the area as a "non-self-governing territory," indicating that the local population lacks the ability to self-govern. Currently, approximately 80% of Western Sahara is occupied and administered by Morocco, its northern neighbor. Rabat regards Western Sahara as an integral part of its sovereign nation, referring to it as its "southern provinces." Despite consistent UN efforts to resolve the half-century-old conflict—such as proposing a referendum—the indigenous inhabitants have never been given the opportunity to vote on their political future.

According to legal experts and human rights organizations speaking to the BBC, labeling and marketing Western Sahara as Moroccan territory raises significant issues under international law. Critics argue that such practices help legitimize Morocco’s occupation. The Moroccan government has declined to comment on these allegations.

Data released by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism indicates a substantial surge in visitor numbers to the Moroccan-controlled portions of Western Sahara. Over the last seven years, tourism has increased by more than 50%, climbing from 490,297 visitors in 2019 to 743,133 in 2025. This growth is largely driven by expanded aviation connections. In addition to the national carrier Royal Air Maroc, airlines such as Transavia France, Binter Canarias, and Ryanair now operate direct flights to the region from Madrid, Paris, and the Canary Islands, respectively.

Tom Ruck, a 29-year-old tourist from the UK, recently traveled to Dakhla from Madrid with Ryanair. He observed significant construction of resorts, though he noted they were largely empty at the time of his visit. While there were other families on holiday, Ruck described the tourism infrastructure as being in its early stages. He reported receiving a Moroccan passport stamp and noted the prominent display of the Moroccan flag throughout the city.

These developments coincide with heavy investment by the Moroccan government in the region's tourism sector, a strategy that has successfully attracted international airlines. Both Ryanair and Transavia France list destinations within Western Sahara as part of Morocco. A representative for Transavia France stated that the company operates flights to Dakhla in compliance with the authorizations granted by the relevant 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. The airline serves both Dakhla and Laayoune, the territory’s largest city.

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

This trend is also evident on major online travel platforms. A search for accommodations in Western Sahara on Expedia, Booking.com, and Trivago typically lists the hotel locations as being in Morocco. Regarding this classification, a spokesperson for Booking.com 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