In parallel with the end of the state of health emergency from this Wednesday, the obligation to present a health form upon arrival in Morocco, the last health measure still in force until now, has also been removed. In any case, this is what the National Airports Office (ONDA) explained in a press release published on its Twitter account this Tuesday. From now on, travelers entering Morocco no longer need to present the health form. Indeed, “it is no longer required to access the national territory,” announced the country’s airport authority in four languages: Arabic, English, Spanish and French. ONDA also reported some news on international air traffic at airports at the same time. This is how Moroccan airports welcomed 1,981,294 passengers, an increase of 6% compared to 2019 (reference year). International air traffic at Moroccan airports in January 2023 increased by 8% (1,779,954 passengers) compared to January 2019 (the reference year). Air traffic with Europe, which represents 83% of international air traffic, increased by 13%, while air traffic with North America increased by 32% compared to January 2019. As for air traffic with Africa, the Middle and Far East and the Maghreb countries, significant recovery rates were recorded, estimated at 98%, 94% and 56% respectively. For its part, domestic air traffic recorded 201,340 passengers in January 2023, with a recovery rate estimated at 91%, compared to the same period in 2019. And detailing air traffic for January 2023, ONDA indicates significant rates of change compared to the reference year, January 2019 in this case, in the Kingdom’s airport structures. Fez-Saiss airport is the airport to have experienced the least traffic in this month with an increase in passengers of 8%. Marrakech Menara for its part experienced an increase of 13% while that of Agadir Al Massira saw the passenger flow increase to 16% and that of Essaouira to 19%. The airports of Tangier Ibn Battouta and Oujda les Angads experienced higher traffic with 40% and 41% respectively. The airports of Zagora (93%), Casablanca-Nouaceur Mohammed V (92%), Al-Hoceima (90%), Dakhla (88%) and Tetouan (85%) achieved the highest figures. Ouarzazate (71%) and Errachidia (58%) airports also performed well. All good things for the air, and with that, excellent omens for tourism which is already growing compared to 2019. Zoubir Bouhout, tourism expert and president of the Ouarzazate Provincial Tourism Council indicated, in a statement to Hespress, that the cancellation of the health form is “an administrative measure which should help the influx of tourists”, stressing that any measure linked to travel conditions encourages potential tourists to come and visit Morocco. With this measure lifted, the Kingdom will present itself as a preferred destination, particularly due to strong competition with certain countries which restrict the freedom to travel. And continues: “During the four months of last year, there was a weakness in tourism performance. With this decision, tourism will prosper, particularly with the imposition of the electronic visa, hence tangible results in perspective which should benefit the tourism sector.” Our interlocutor called for the launch of direct flights to Morocco, and the provision of infrastructure to welcome potential tourists, while adopting flexibility in terms of reception conditions, emphasizing all the same that other destinations in Morocco still need to make more efforts.
source: hespress.com
