HIBAPRESS – (Omar Razzini: Barcelona Office)
The port of Algeciras, in southern Spain, has been witnessing unusual activity in maritime traffic towards the port of Tangier in recent days, coinciding with Morocco's preparations to host the African Cup of Nations finals, prompting the Spanish port authorities to adopt special measures described as a miniature "Marhaba" operation.
This exceptional measure comes as a result of the large increase in the number of passengers, especially from the Moroccan community residing in Europe, in addition to African fans who chose to go to Morocco to follow the competitions of the continental championship. This increasing flow has put significant pressure on the port, both in terms of the movement of people and the crossing of vehicles. In this context, the port of Algeciras is witnessing intense and unprecedented movement, which necessitated enhancing logistical and human readiness, by increasing the pace of sea voyages, expanding waiting spaces, and accelerating security and customs inspection procedures, as well as mobilizing additional resources to ensure the smooth running of the crossing process. Coordination between the Spanish authorities and their Moroccan counterparts, especially with Tangier Med port, has also been strengthened, with the aim of ensuring smooth movement and reducing waiting times, especially during peak periods that see a large influx of passengers. This temporary operation is a practical test of the ports' ability to manage large human flows outside the usual time frame of the "Marhaba" operation, in light of a continental sporting event that receives widespread attention at the regional and international levels. This increasing demand to head towards Morocco reflects the growing status that the Kingdom has come to enjoy as a sporting and organizational destination, and its ability to attract audiences from various African and European countries, which enhances its regional and international radiance.
