Morocco’s Coastline

This is an ongoing project that explores the cultural shifts in Moroccan coastal towns transformed by the surf and skate tourism boom. Once quiet fishing villages, these towns have become international holiday destinations, attracting an influx of European tourists and introducing a more liberal lifestyle. However, this raises an important question—have we introduced change, or have we imposed it?

As a white, caucasian woman surfing in these spaces, I was aware of my position and made sure to consider this when capturing my observations and impact of this whilst navigating my documentation. Tourism’s impact is particularly evident in gender dynamics: local men often adopt a performative, peacock-like presence in the surf and skate scenes, while local women tend to remain more reserved, reflecting cultural expectations however still empowered on their authority to run a household. Yet I was curious whether over time, these dynamics shift, shaped by the ongoing interaction between locals and visitors.

This project seeks to understand how tourism affects local identity, gender roles, and social interactions—questioning whether this transformation represents an enriching evolution or a challenge to cultural and religious values.