Tourism

Articles

• Tourist’s Viral Video Leads to Arrest in Chefchaouen Harassment Case
  17 August 2024, by Sylvanus

  The elements of the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) succeeded in arresting an individual whom a foreign tourist accused of harassment in a video widely circulated on social networks while she was taking photos during a visit to Chefchaouen.
  Technical expertise reveals that the recording and dissemination of this video date back to May 2023. At that time, the tourist was staying in Morocco, and had not filed any complaint about these acts with the police, the DGSN said. (…)

• Moroccan Foreign Travel Spending Surges to 18.9 Billion Dirhams in 2018
  1 February 2019, by Said

  Moroccans spent a lot last year during their trips abroad, according to the latest statistics just published by the Office of Foreign Exchange.
  According to these figures released yesterday, Moroccans spent 18.9 billion dirhams in 2018, up 9% from 2017, which was already an exceptional year with 21% growth. The Foreign Exchange Office expects even higher figures next year thanks to the increase in the tourism allowance.
  Moreover, the travel surplus stands at 54.3 billion dirhams, a (…)

• UK Updates Travel Guidance for Morocco Amid Middle East Tensions
  20 April 2024, by Sylvanus

  The United Kingdom has updated its travel alert level for Morocco following Israel’s retaliation against Iran.
  Is Morocco safe right now? In its latest note, the Foreign Office does not advise against traveling to any region of the kingdom. However, it urges British nationals wishing to go there to avoid areas considered to be at higher risk, particularly crowded areas, government buildings, transport networks, businesses with Western interests and areas where foreign nationals and (…)

• Marrakech Snake Charmers: Tourism Tradition Faces Animal Welfare Scrutiny
  8 June 2023, by Prince

  Snake charmers, or Aïssaoua, are an integral part of Moroccan culture. But their activity on Jemaa El-Fna square in Marrakech, which attracts many tourists, inflicts suffering on the snakes and has a negative impact on sustainable tourism.
  Snakes are animals that inspire fear and concern in the world. But not for the Aïssaoua, descendants of Sidi Mohamed Ben Aïssa, who have the power to tame them. On the famous Jemaa El-Fna square in Marrakech, we see these charmers, accompanied by the (…)

• Hungarian Tourist Considers Leaving Morocco Early Due to Harassment and Scams
  5 June 2019, by Amine

  A Hungarian globetrotter tourist had decided to spend 3 months in Morocco. After 3 weeks, she already thinks about leaving the place. The reason: The men!
  Harassed wherever she goes, scammed everywhere, this is how one can summarize what this Hungarian says she has experienced. And she has several times considered leaving the country because of the behavior of men towards her.
  In an article she wrote on theglobetrottingdetective.com, this one, named Diana Lesko, writes a whole paragraph (…)

• Morocco Struggles to Attract Russian Tourists Amid High Prices and Service Issues
  26 November 2019, by Kamal

  The weakness of services and the lack of low-cost flights are among the factors that do not encourage Russian tourism in Morocco. The statement by the President of the Russian Union of Tourism summarizes the current crisis in this sector.
  "It is vital that the components of the tourism product be in harmony with demand. In addition to cultural, historical and natural assets, suitable logistical solutions are imperative," he said to the Sputnik agency.
  According to the Russian expert, (…)

• Morocco Cracks Down on Unlicensed Chinese Tour Guides to Protect Tourism Industry
  13 January 2020, by Ginette

  The Ministry of Tourism is determined to tackle the clandestine Chinese agencies that discredit tourism by employing fake tourist guides. Through a circular note addressed to the heads of travel agencies organizing programs for Chinese tourists, the supervisory authority calls for strict compliance with the specifications concerning Chinese tourists.
  Since Chinese tourists are exempt from visas, they are flocking to the kingdom to discover the wonders it has to offer. But the downside is (…)

• Morocco’s Airports See Rapid Recovery, Approach Pre-Pandemic Passenger Levels
  11 July 2022, by Ginette

  These are rather encouraging figures for both tourism and the air transport sector. The reopening of borders has helped revive the air transport sector, which was severely affected by the Covid-19 crisis, according to the National Airports Office (ONDA), which points out that from February to May, Moroccan airports recorded data very close to that of 2019, the reference year.
  Already more than 5.3 million passengers have been received. And it is the Mohammed V airport in Casablanca that (…)

• Ryanair Seeks Approval for Domestic Flights in Morocco, Challenging Local Airlines
  21 November 2023, by Prince

  Ryanair plans to launch domestic flights in Morocco for the first time next year. The company has already initiated the administrative formalities with the Moroccan authorities for this purpose.
  The Irish low-cost carrier has already submitted an official request to the Moroccan government, according to a Moroccan government source and an airline official. The processing of the request is underway at the Directorate of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. The (…)

• Morocco’s Tourism Industry Faces $5 Billion Loss as COVID-19 Closes Borders
  24 August 2020, by Sylvanus

  The coronavirus has severely impacted Moroccan tourism due to the closure of the kingdom’s borders. As a result, heavy losses have been recorded.
  Since the implementation of the state of health emergency in March, Morocco’s borders have remained closed. This measure taken by the authorities to counter the spread of the coronavirus in the kingdom has had a lasting impact on the tourism sector. The losses recorded are estimated at more than five billion euros, reports TF1. A team from this (…)