conducted a price simulation for car and ferry travel between Moroccan and European ports following the launch of the Operation Marhaba 2024. The analysis reveals significant price variations depending on the chosen shipping company. With the launch of Operation Marhaba by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity on June 5, 2024, many Moroccan families living abroad will be making the trip back home this summer. For those traveling by sea, planning the trip can be the main cost factor. Booking simulations carried out by Yabiladi on June 6, 2024, show significant differences in fares between shipping companies. For a family of four with a car, crossing prices start at around 300 euros. FRS DFDS offers a round trip from Tarifa (Spain) to Tangier for around 426 euros, for a stay between June 15 and July 20, 2024. Africa Morocco Link (AML) comes in slightly cheaper at 381 euros for the same route and travel dates (June 15-July 21), translating to roughly 76 euros per passenger. Costs climb significantly for other routes. A round trip from Almeria (Spain) to Nador with GNV reaches almost 600 euros, while Trasmediterránea offers the same route at a staggering 842 euros. Departing from Genoa (Italy) with a CNG ship, a round trip to Tangier with a stopover and full board for two children and one adult (with vehicle) can cost up to 2,000 euros. The same company offers a Sète (France) to Tangier trip for this family configuration at just over 1,660 euros. Year-on-year price increases Operation Marhaba involves a special program running from June 5 to September 15, activated simultaneously in Morocco, France, Spain, and Italy, to assist Moroccan communities abroad. According to a press release from the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, this assistance covers arrival and return phases, working in conjunction with arrangements from various stakeholders. The Foundation will be present at 24 Marhaba reception sites, offering support services including medical assistance. A comparison of this year's prices with those of 2019 for the same routes and shipping companies reveals an average increase on certain routes. This trend confirms observations over the last two years, likely due to rising oil prices in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since shipping fuels are also affected, travel fares have consequently risen.
