Marruecos registra en marzo una tasa de pasajeros parecida a los niveles prepandemia
The good news keeps coming to the Alawi kingdom. With the resumption of international flights and the opening of borders, Morocco is beginning to normalise the situation. As a result, tourists are arriving more and more normally in the country. It seems that the tourism sector is beginning to recover from a few months of total closure during which the industry could hardly be reactivated.
Since 7 February, when international flights resumed, until 31 March, the Kingdom has recorded 2,228,723 passengers travelling through the nation's airports. According to the National Airports Office (ONDA), more than 21,330 flights have arrived in Morocco during this period, signifying a normalisation of the post-pandemic situation.
ONDA points out that in March alone, Moroccan airports recorded a traffic volume of 1,452,030 tourists, arriving from around 13,543 flights. This underlines that the sector is starting to recover. The data confirms that there is already a recovery close to 2019 levels. During this year, ONDA says that there was a volume of 70% of passengers and 80% in airport movements.
It is worth noting that Mohammed V airport, the largest aviation hub in the Kingdom and located in the city of Casablanca, has recorded the highest number of passengers and flights compared to the others. In March alone, it received 565,484 passengers and around 5,330 aircraft arrived at the centre. In contrast at the national level, this airport's traffic represents 71% of passenger transport. On the other hand, in 2019, the traffic at this airport was 75%, so that a remarkable recovery can be affirmed.
In addition, ONDA points out that the passengers who stayed in Morocco during the month of March have meant a recovery rate of 67% compared to the 2019 data for the same period. In 2022, 170,735 passengers have stayed within the Maghreb country.
It is not only in Morocco that normality is being recorded at airports. Air traffic worldwide recorded 1,281,295 passengers, with a rate of 71% at pre-pandemic levels. Also, the South American and North African markets are recording a remarkable recovery. Marketing between these nations enters a recovery rate of over 65% compared to the same situation in 2019.
On the other hand, the European rate, which is usually one of the largest in the world, has collected similar data to South America and the Maghreb countries. European international air traffic normally accounts for more than 82% in a normal season, but compared to 2019, March has seen a 66% share.
The air freight sector also seems to have normalised its situation. In March, more than 6,796 tonnes of commercial cargo were accounted for. Although there is still some way to go to match the figures for 2019, as some 8,221 tonnes of goods were moved during that year, the data ensures that the industry now has a recovery rate of 83%.
The Moroccan government is implementing measures to bring this situation back to normal and return the sector to a considerable situation. The government is trying to boost the tourism industry through various schemes that promise to reap very good benefits. These include a new programme to attract visitors to stay in the country's hotels and restaurants, both internationally and domestically.
In the same way, aid and incentives have been handed out to workers in this economic field, who have had a terrible few months without any money. It should be remembered that the Kingdom, following the rapid expansion of Omicron, decided to close the borders and cancel all flights. This situation meant that, during the period of closure, the tourism and hospitality industry has struggled to get back on its feet and begin to recover.
