Tourist visits to Western Sahara have surged by over 50% in the past seven years, with airlines and travel companies marketing the area as part of Morocco, despite the United Nations classifying it as a “non-self-governing territory”.
The Moroccan government has invested heavily in developing tourism in the region, attracting airlines such as Ryanair and Transavia France, which now operate direct routes from Madrid and Paris. Visitor numbers have jumped from 490,297 in 2019 to 743,133 in 2025, according to data from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.
Western Sahara Tourism
The boom in tourism has raised concerns among rights groups and legal experts, who argue that marketing Western Sahara as part of Morocco promotes the legitimization of Morocco’s occupation. The indigenous people of the area have never been able to vote for their own future, with the UN consistently pushing for a solution to the 50-year dispute.
Some airlines, such as Binter Canarias, have chosen to refer to the area as Western Sahara, rather than Morocco. However, major booking sites such as Expedia, Booking.com, and Trivago list destinations in the area as being part of Morocco.
Experts warn that companies referring to the territory as Moroccan risk contributing to a distortion of international law and public understanding. Dr. Andrea Maria Pelliconi, an expert in international human rights law, argues that airlines and booking sites should distinguish Western Sahara as a territory with a different status from Morocco.
Implications and Reactions
The Moroccan government’s efforts to develop tourism in Western Sahara have significant implications for the region’s future. The increase in tourist visits has the potential to further entrench Morocco’s control over the area, making it more difficult to resolve the long-standing dispute.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to Morocco’s efforts to promote tourism in Western Sahara. The UN has consistently called for a solution to the dispute, and it is likely that the organization will continue to push for a referendum to allow the indigenous people to determine their own future.
The broader significance of Morocco’s efforts to boost tourism in Western Sahara lies in its potential to set a precedent for other disputed territories around the world. As the global community grapples with issues of territorial sovereignty and self-determination, the outcome of this dispute will have far-reaching implications for international law and human rights.
