Direct flights begin between Essaouira and Tel Aviv
The direct air connection between the Israeli city of Tel Aviv and Essaouira, one of Morocco's most important tourist destinations, became a reality on 7 September.
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was the setting for the launch of this new airline, operated by the Israeli company Arkia, which will connect the Israeli capital with Essaouira with one flight a week.
This new air connection has been made possible thanks to the agreement signed on 18 July between the Moroccan National Tourist Office and the airline, with the aim of promoting Morocco as a holiday destination for Israeli tourists.
Prior to the inaugural flight, a ceremony took place at Ben Gurion Airport itself, presided over by the head of the Moroccan Liaison Office in Tel Aviv, Abderrahim Bayoud; Rabbi David Pinto; and the mayor of the city of Essaouira, Tarik Ottmani.
Also present was the CEO of Arkia Airlines, Gadi Tepper, who told the media that "I am delighted to inaugurate this first flight to Essaouira, as part of the historic agreement signed with Morocco, which will allow Israelis to enjoy this tourist destination that offers a wonderful beach, culture, festivals and unique architecture. I would like to thank His Majesty the King of Morocco for this strengthening of relations between our two countries".
Arkia plans to offer 11,000 seats on these weekly flights to Essaouira and will collaborate with the Moroccan National Tourist Office in a multi-channel advertising campaign to promote Essaouira as a tourist destination, emphasising its history and the special Jewish-Moroccan link of the so-called City of the Winds.
It should be recalled that the first Jews arrived in Essaouira in the 18th century at the invitation of Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah; they were known as 'the Sultan's merchants' and some of them played an important role in the development of Morocco's diplomatic relations with Britain, France, Austria and other European powers.
Israeli tourism important for Morocco
In addition to the new Tel Aviv-Essaouira route, the agreement signed between the Moroccan Tourist Board and the Arkia airline also provides for doubling the capacity of flights to Marrakech from Ben Gurion airport to 22,000 seats.
Morocco wants to tap the market of Israeli tourists, who are increasingly interested in the Kingdom as a holiday destination. According to the latest data collected by the Moroccan Tourism Observatory, the number of Israeli tourists visiting the Kingdom has increased from 15,600 in the first half of 2019 to more than 38,000 in the same period of 2023, a 146% increase.
Last June alone, a total of 5,600 Israeli tourists visited Morocco, a 96% growth compared to the same month in 2019.
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs points to the fact that Israelis have received most of the electronic visas issued by Morocco since this programme was launched in 2022 as one of the factors behind this growth.
According to the programme's data, Morocco issued 150,000 e-visas out of 160,000 applications. Israeli citizens account for 55% of the visas issued.