Air and maritime travel witnessed a noticeable rebound in activity nationwide during the current year, according to the Economy Ministry’s latest data.
Travel activity continues to recover from the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, which pushed Morocco to shut down its borders to contain the virus.
The Economy Ministry said in its latest note in June that air and maritime travel activity’s increase is driven by the COVID-19 easing measures on international travel since May 18.
For now, the country requires travelers to provide either a negative PCR test taken 72 hours ahead of departure or a valid vaccination pass.
The easing of restrictions comes as part of the government’s measures, in a bid to help support the sector’s activity, in addition to the Marhaba operation, which aims to receive the Moroccan community residing abroad.
The 2022 Marhaba operation launched on June 5, allowing the access of a large number of ships, linking Moroccan ports to those in Spain, France, and Italy.
This operation is expected to receive 490,000 passengers a day, said the Transport and Logistics Minister in a response to oral questions session in the House of Councilors.
Additionally, a budget of MAD 150 million has been allocated to prepare the transit operation and ensure fluidity and comfort, through increased capacity of reception, the comfort of travelers, and control, according to MAP.
Regarding air travel, this year’s activity is the same as that of 2019, during the pre-pandemic period, said the Economy Ministry.
Air traffic involves 48 airline companies, including 3 national companies, which are set to operate an average of 1660 weekly flights, spread over 115 airports, in about 46 countries around four continents.
Europe is the main destination, accounting for an 85% share, equivalent to a total of 1420 weekly flights, said the Ministry.
The number of tourist arrivals in Morocco reached 2.3 million at the end of May, up compared to 501,000 recorded during the same period last year, according to the Ministry’s data.
Morocco received in May alone, around 801,000 tourists, representing an increase of about 11% compared to May 2019, the pre-pandemic period, added the same source.
Moroccans living abroad represent 49% of the global tourist arrivals during the first five months of the current year, compared to 51% of foreign tourists, according to the same source.
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