Morocco Court International Visitors to Western Sahara Amidst Allegations of Stricter Control

In March, an invitation arrived in my inbox from Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, prompting me to consider my "next Moroccan adventure." The destination: Dakhla, a city situated on a windswept peninsula where the Sahara Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. The logistics were straightforward—requiring a transfer in Madrid—with return flights from the Spanish capital starting at a bargain €30 (£26). The area is also seeing a surge in hospitality infrastructure, ranging from budget hostels to new luxury resorts promoting the region as a "hidden gem" of Morocco.

However, beneath the surface of these marketing campaigns lies a complex geopolitical reality. Any traveler booking this trip is actually entering one of the world’s most protracted territorial disputes. Dakhla is located in Western Sahara, a region the United Nations designates as a "non-self-governing territory." This classification indicates that the indigenous population lacks self-governance. Currently, Morocco, its northern neighbor, administers approximately 80% of Western Sahara, which it considers an integral part of its sovereign land, referring to it as the "southern provinces."

Despite the UN’s long-standing efforts to resolve the half-century-old conflict—including proposals for a referendum—the local people have never had the opportunity to vote on their political future. According to rights organizations and legal specialists speaking to the BBC, labeling Western Sahara as Moroccan territory in tourism campaigns raises significant international law concerns. Critics argue that such marketing legitimizes Morocco’s occupation of the region. The Moroccan government declined to comment when approached for this report.

Data from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism reveals a sharp increase in visitor numbers to the Moroccan-controlled parts of Western Sahara, with a rise of over 50% in the last seven years. The figure climbed from 490,297 in 2019 to 743,133 in 2025. This tourism boom is largely driven by expanded air connectivity. In addition to the national carrier Royal Air Maroc, airlines such as Transavia France, Binter Canarias, and Ryanair now offer direct routes from Paris, the Canary Islands, and Madrid, respectively.

Tom Ruck, a 29-year-old tourist from the UK, recently flew to Dakhla from Madrid with Ryanair. He noted that while many resorts are under construction, they remained largely empty. "You've got quite a lot of resorts being built, however they were very, very empty," Ruck observed. He mentioned seeing only a handful of other tourists, describing the scene as suitable for a "summer family holiday" but noting that the industry was still in its "infancy." Upon arrival, Ruck received a Moroccan passport stamp, and the Moroccan flag was visibly displayed throughout the city.

This influx of travelers coincides with significant Moroccan government investment in developing the region's tourism sector. These investments have encouraged airlines to market destinations within Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Transavia France stated to the BBC that it operates flights to Dakhla "in accordance with the authorisations received from the authorities." Ryanair has not yet responded to requests for comment. In contrast, 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, from the campaign group Western Sahara Resource Watch, criticized airlines that classify the territory as Moroccan, describing the practice 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 labeling raises "serious questions about corporate responsibility and due diligence in politically sensitive and illegally occupied territories."

The issue extends beyond aviation. A search for accommodation in Western Sahara on major international booking platforms—Expedia, Booking.com, and Trivago—also lists the hotels as being located in Morocco. Regarding this classification, a spokesperson for Booking.com explained: "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