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Casablanca Leads Pan-African Tourism Summit to Enhance Morocco's Global Standing

DIWIDA.NEWS africa, culture, morocco, tourists, travel

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 A recent Pan-African tourism workshop took place in Casablanca, hosted by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT). This event forms part of an ongoing initiative aimed at boosting Morocco’s and Africa’s presence in the international tourism sector.
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 The gathering assembled tourism authorities, sector specialists, along with delegates from hotels and air transportation firms, all converging on a common objective to advocate for Africa as an attractive and formidable travel spot. Additionally, the seminar highlighted Morocco’s pivotal position as a key node and catalyst in propelling this change forward.
 
 
 The ONMT is currently focused on enhancing air links, drawing additional global tourists, and upgrading the entire travel journey. The organization's approach hinges on several mainstays such as ease of access, the wide array of Moroccan tourist attractions, and the increasing number of worldwide hotel chains establishing themselves within the nation.
 
 
 As part of their continuous initiatives, the ONMT aimed to enhance the appeal of Morocco’s and Africa’s tourism sectors via better aerial connections, varied tourist draws, and superior guest encounters.
 
 
 The attendees shared top-notch strategies and looked into chances for teamwork designed to bring new life to tourism throughout the continent. The talks, guided by specialists from within and outside the country, centered around key topics including building up infrastructures, using digital advancements in tourism, and encouraging eco-friendly and ethical trips across Africa.
 
 
 The ONMT mentioned that the workshop was designed to broaden internal African air connections, create shared promotional tactics, and encourage cooperation between various players in the tourism sector with the aim of presenting Africa as a cohesive and strong player in the international travel market.
 
 
 The gathering ended with several suggestions aimed at enhancing collaboration between African countries, increasing the region’s profile as an attractive tourist spot, and encouraging eco-friendly approaches in the industry.
 
 
 At present, tourism accounts for 7.3% of Morocco’s GDP, with earnings from this sector totaling $11.25 billion. The nation serves as an example of successful tourism growth in Africa due to factors such as its advantageous geographical position, increasing flight connections, and a varied array of tourist attractions—from historical sites to coastal holiday destinations.
 
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Casablanca Leads Pan-African Tourism Summit to Enhance Morocco's Global Standing

A recent Pan-African tourism workshop took place in Casablanca, hosted by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT). This event forms pa...

Western Europe Takes the Lead in Winter Flights to Morocco

DIWIDA.NEWS africa, europe, flights, morocco, travel

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 Air travel to Morocco is growing, with new data from OAG, a global travel analytics company, showing that Western Europe now dominates international flight capacity to the country.
 


 
 Around 6.4 million seats have been scheduled for the winter 2024 season, covering October 2024 to March 2025. This is a 19% increase compared to winter 2023 — an additional one million seats.
 


 
 North America’s flight capacity to Morocco also rose by 19 percent, while routes from Central and Eastern Europe recorded a larger 45 percent year-on-year increase.
 


 
 According to aviation expert Deirdre Fulton, who reviewed these figures, this growth is part of a broader trend in Morocco’s tourism sector.
 


 
 In 2024, the nation welcomed 17.4 million international travelers, ranking it as the top tourist destination in Africa for that year.
 


 
 Fulton associated this expansion with better aerial connections, promotional activities, and the increased variety of locations accessible throughout Morocco.
 


 
 France constitutes the biggest separate marketplace, where airlines have planned to allocate 2.3 million seats for the 2024 winter season.
 


 
 Following closely behind is Spain with more than 1.1 million seats available. The United Kingdom also demonstrates significant expansion, boasting over 45% additional seating capacity compared to the previous year. Additionally, Portugal, Switzerland, and Spain have all experienced remarkable increases of at least 27%.
 


 
 The increase in global seating capacity can largely be attributed to budget carriers. Airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, Air Arabia Maroc, Jet2.com, and Transavia are at the forefront of this growth.
 


 
 This winter, Ryanair has added over 325,000 additional seats, marking a 67% rise as opposed to easyJet’s expansion.
 


 
 The company has introduced 24 additional international routes originating from Western Europe and currently manages 11 domestic routes across Morocco, four of which have no competitors.
 


 
 Although Marrakesh and Casablanca remain the top choices for travelers, other urban centers are experiencing significant rises in popularity. Cities such as Agadir, Tangier, and Rabat have seen more than a 30 percent increase in seat availability this season during the colder months.
 


 
 Ryanair holds the largest share of European capacity in these cities, including 48% in Tangier, 38% in Rabat, and 36% in both Marrakesh and Agadir. In contrast, easyJet is more active in Agadir, Marrakesh, and Rabat, while Air Arabia Maroc serves about 32 percent of seats to Tangier.
 


 
 The report indicated that Morocco's temperate winter weather draws tourists outside peak seasons. Given the upcoming events—the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup in 2030—global attention towards the country is anticipated to increase significantly.
 


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 International flights to Morocco this winter see Western Europe as the frontrunner.
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Western Europe Takes the Lead in Winter Flights to Morocco

Air travel to Morocco is growing, with new data from OAG, a global travel analytics company, showing that Western Europe now dominates...

France Boosts Consular Services in Morocco’s Southern Provinces

DIWIDA.NEWS french, international relations, morocco, news, politics

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 For approximately a month, persistent rumors have been spreading. Now, the information has been officially confirmed: France plans to extend its consular operations into Morocco’s southern regions. This action holds substantial symbolic and political importance, representing a tangible measure towards executing France’s acknowledgment of Morocco’s authority over the Sahara region.


 As reported by Le360 and verified by a source at blog.Diawal>, a TLS Contact center—which handles visa applications for France—is set to launch in Laayoune this May. This facility will enable locals from Laayoune, Dakhla, Es-Semara, and other Saharan regions to apply for visas closer to home, eliminating the need to go to the French consulate in Agadir.


 This choice marks a clear change in France’s diplomatic stance, reflecting recent declarations made by the French administration regarding the Sahara dispute. The establishment of a visa center in Laayoune serves more than just practical purposes; it is an integral component of a larger diplomatic initiative initiated through a letter President Emmanuel Macron addressed to King Mohammed VI on July 30, 2024. In his correspondence, Macron firmly stated that "the current and future status of Western Sahara should be considered within Morocco's sovereign jurisdiction," emphasizing further that autonomy under Moroccan rule constitutes, according to France, “the appropriate setting” for resolving this matter.


 Following the announcement of their firm stance, Morocco’s Saharan regions experienced multiple visits from prominent French government representatives. In early February, Christophe Lecourtier, who serves as the French ambassador to Morocco, stayed for three days in Laayoune. Shortly after, on February 17th and 18th, Culture Minister Rachida Dati toured both Laayoune and Dakhla. Concluding these diplomatic missions, Gérard Larcher, the President of the Senate and one of France’s highest authorities, journeyed to the area on February 25th with the aim of reinforcing France’s formal acknowledgment of the Moroccan sovereignty over the territories.

France Boosts Consular Services in Morocco’s Southern Provinces

For approximately a month, persistent rumors have been spreading. Now, the information has been officially confirmed: France plans to ext...