Morocco is aggressively promoting tourism in Western Sahara, a territory the UN classifies as a “non-self-governing entity.” Airlines like Ryanair and Transavia France now offer direct flights, marketing the region as part of Morocco. Visitor numbers have surged over 50% since 2019, reaching over 743,000 in 2025.
Key booking sites-Expedia, Booking.com, and Trivago-also list hotels as being in Morocco. Human rights experts warn this practice misrepresents the territory’s status and violates international law. However, Canadian carrier Binter Canarias correctly identifies the location as Western Sahara.
The Polisario Front, which controls a strip of land and demands an independent Western Sahara, accuses Morocco of using tourism to cement its occupation. The group is considering legal action against airlines like Ryanair.
The US, under former President Trump, recognized Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco normalizing ties with Israel. The UN continues to push for a mutually agreed political solution.