Morocco’s tourism push in Western Sahara raises international concerns

When Ryanair sent an email in March inviting me to book my “next Moroccan adventure,” the destination caught my attention. Dakhla, a wind-swept peninsula where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, seemed like an exotic escape. The catch? It lies in Western Sahara—a territory at the heart of a decades-long territorial dispute.

Flights from Madrid to Dakhla start at just €30 round trip, with multiple accommodation options ranging from budget hostels to newly built luxury resorts marketing the region as Morocco’s hidden gem. Yet behind the promotional campaigns lies a complex geopolitical reality that travelers rarely encounter.

The unresolved conflict behind the sand and sea

Western Sahara has been on the United Nations’ list of non-self-governing territories since 1963. The territory’s fate remains unresolved after Spain’s withdrawal in 1976, when Morocco—along with Mauritania—annexed parts of the region. A war between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people, lasted until a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991. That agreement promised a referendum on self-determination, but voting never took place.

Today, Morocco controls roughly 80% of Western Sahara, administering it as part of its southern provinces. The Polisario Front governs a narrow strip in the east. The UN continues to push for a political solution, but progress remains elusive. The latest Security Council resolution in October extended the UN peacekeeping mission (MINURSO) for another year while endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most viable path forward—a move supported by the United States since 2020.

Tourism as a tool of control?

Morocco has invested heavily in developing Western Sahara’s tourism sector over the past seven years. Official figures show visitor numbers surged by over 50%, from 490,297 in 2019 to 743,133 in 2025. This growth coincides with direct flights from European hubs like Madrid, Paris, and the Canary Islands, operated not just by Morocco’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc but also by Ryanair and Transavia France.

Tourists like Tom Ruck, a 29-year-old British traveler who recently flew to Dakhla via Ryanair, often arrive to find half-built resorts and sparse crowds. “It felt like the early stages of development,” he said. His passport was stamped by Moroccan authorities, and Moroccan flags flew prominently across the city. While some travelers may be unaware of the territory’s contested status, human rights groups argue that such tourism promotion legitimizes Morocco’s occupation.

Ethical tourism or political maneuvering?

The controversy deepens when travel platforms label Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Booking.com, Expedia, and Trivago currently list hotels in the territory under Morocco’s jurisdiction, a classification that legal experts warn may violate international law.

Erik Hagen, from the advocacy group Western Sahara Resource Watch, argues that such mislabeling misleads travelers and undermines the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. “Companies marketing these destinations as Moroccan risk distorting international law and public understanding,” he says. Dr. Andrea Maria Pelliconi, a human rights law expert at the University of Southampton, adds that businesses failing to distinguish Western Sahara’s unique status could face legal challenges under EU consumer protection laws.

Pressure from advocacy groups has led to some changes. Last year, Airbnb removed references to Western Sahara as part of Morocco from its listings—though major platforms like Booking.com and Expedia have yet to follow suit.

A region caught in geopolitical crosswinds

The Polisario Front’s representative in the UK and Ireland, Sidi Breika, sees Morocco’s tourism strategy as an attempt to create a fait accompli. “Investments in tourism or infrastructure do not replace the Sahrawi people’s right to decide their own future,” he asserts. Breika also warns that the Polisario Front is monitoring Ryanair’s operations and considering legal action.

The international community remains divided. While the US and some allies back Morocco’s autonomy plan, the UN continues to emphasize the need for a mutually agreed political solution. For now, Western Sahara’s status remains in legal limbo, and travelers venturing there do so amid a contested narrative.

The question lingers: Is Morocco using tourism to normalize its control over a territory whose people have yet to exercise their right to self-determination?