Recuperar la actividad turística entre España y Marruecos

The Moroccan Tourist Office organized in October a visit of tourism professionals from Andalusia and Valencia to meet with their Moroccan counterparts in Tangier, Rabat and Tetouan. Some neighboring countries like Morocco are already working on economic recovery while maintaining strict security measures with the coronavirus: when you arrive at Tangier airport you are required to have a PCR test done 72 hours before and a hotel reservation where, when you arrive, your suitcase is disinfected and your temperature is taken.

This is a campaign to regain enough confidence to get tourists back to a safe country that offers many opportunities. 

Moroccan tour operators have maintained contacts in Tangier, Rabat and Tetouan with tour operators in Andalusia, eager and very much in need of returning to work because the crisis is devastating.

Autonomous entrepreneurs of travel agencies of all types in Malaga, Seville and Valencia are looking for new opportunities with managers of hotels, riads, air and land transport, travel agencies throughout Morocco and with tempting offers, suffering from a sector blocked by the pandemic that only resists thanks to local tourism, as in Spain, but every day sees those who can not more have to close.

The reality in this field is very similar on both sides of the Mediterranean. Companies of all sizes, professionals without work, economic and social depression that threatens the stability of many countries. Uncertainty and pessimism looms over millions of people fed by a second and third wave of the coronavirus that experts predicted, but political leaders did not manage it properly. 

However, professionals who depend on their own initiative and effort cannot afford to languish in the face of the enormous confusion created by contradictory measures as determined by political ups and downs.

The Moroccan Tourist Office in Andalusia and its manager, Azzedine Bijjou, have taken the initiative to put Borja Gonzalez in touch with Roya Lamine to fit the exclusive Riad Saba's House in the centre of Tangier into their offer;

Ingrid Amigo from clickviaja.com with Hycham who offers more personal experiences;

Oscar Padilla from the Jumbo Tours group with experience in Morocco but looking for new offers with Hamza de Lixus Beach Resort, a spa in the interior, in the Larache area; Rafael Iglesias and Mariluz Bejarano with Farah for a la carte tours; 

to Nuria Torrero of Tu maleta traveller with Ghofrane El Ammari of the hotel Hilton of Tánger thinking about the golf; 

Miguel Flores with Mohamed Rais from the hotel Farah looking for the historical center; 

Karina from Karisma incoming with Najla Tligui from the Barceló Tánger with options for the future 

Manuel Villegas and Victoria Yepes offering the Gipsy Kings, among other things:

to Abbes Taoubi of Luxotour looking for new offers with Houda El Majdouli and his travel agency 

Javier Lopez with Idriss Saoudi from Le Diwan in Rabat;

Fran Extremera, journalist from La Opinión de Málaga, a great colleague who combines his articles with excellent musical sessions as a DJ in very important places and all with the flexibility that Khalid Chakrane and Aabla El Allali imbue their management at Air Arabia so that the people, the tourists that everyone wants to regain and mobilize can take the leap. Behind and in front of the political decisions are always those affected who are more concerned about the cost of the PCR, not less than 140 euros while in Germany it is free or the opening of borders. 

But, above all, they are calling on the media to help create another environment, with respect for the virus, but without fear of regaining their lives.

This is how Mustapha Amalon titled his review on the website TravelNews.com, all the tourist information of Morocco and said that they are 18 Spanish travel agents representing the Association of Travel Agents of Andalusia who will participate, in the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses, in a Fam Trip organized for them by the CRT Rabat-Salé-Kénitra in association with ONMT. This promotional and educational tour began as part of the tourism recovery plan for the destination after COVID-19.

This is the first international opening operation since the declaration of the pandemic in Morocco followed by the closure of the borders. This initiative will undoubtedly allow Rabat in particular, and Morocco in general, to breathe and recover its markets, while respecting the health measures in place in our country. 

This meeting was an opportunity to discuss the new model of tourism accompanied by new health measures put in place, ensuring the safety of visitors and above all an opportunity to promote the potential of the Region and its cultural heritage. 

This Fam Trip is an opportunity that tour operators in the region can take advantage of to promote the destination in Andalusia, but also a first step before relaunching other international markets.

INTERVIEWS...

Khalid Chakrane Bachtiri, responsible for Air Arabia in Spain, France and Portugal

As the head of Air Arabia, what do you expect from these meetings?

We try to promote relations between tourism between Spain and Morocco. We are doing our best with the Moroccan tourist office, so that in the future we know that these are very difficult times, but we are sure that by collaborating between the two parties we will try to get out of this and a little bit promote tourism between the two countries in the future.

What stands out in a company like Air Arabia is its proximity, its flexibility and its closeness   

The key word is proximity. Proximity and flexibility are very important to us, especially in key times that humanity is going through. 

Are you optimistic? Do you think you can go back?

I am sure that when this is over, everyone will want to leave their home, enjoy life. Above all, we the people of the Mediterranean Morocco, Spain, France, Italy will do everything possible to cushion the impact of the Covid-19, which is leaving its mark on us, but when this is over I am optimistic and positive like almost everyone else. We believe that life will go on and we will find the remedies to go on. 

Rkia Alaoui, President of the Regional Council of Tourism of Tangier

What do you expect from this visit with Spanish tour operators?

We are very happy to receive the main operators in the region of Andalusia. Today we can see how important this operator is for us. Morocco has made great efforts in terms of health measures to ensure that these operators are relaxed. We have and must work together. 

Do we have to collaborate in any way?

Morocco is still here, making more and more efforts and taking the necessary measures to continue fighting this pandemic. So that once the borders are reopened we will be ready to receive our main market, Spain. 

Do you think that we will be able to make sure that there is no fear, but if I respect the coronavirus, so that people can travel again, move around and reactivate our lives?

The pandemic is with us and it will not end tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, at some point we will have to adapt, we need life to return, the world economy to be reactivated, activities to return, because it is a necessity to live and survive. 

Is tourism the key?

Above all, in certain sectors such as ours, tourism, which is a very fragile sector and involves a very important professional and media value. Fear is normal, but if we receive operators like these and they can see for themselves, without any fear that they can visit, even if they wear a mask, that we can sleep, eat, travel around the world not only in Morocco. 

Do you trust in vaccines?

We need to get into the head that this pandemic is here, we hope that one day the vaccine will come out and that it can calm the situation, but for the moment this is the objective of some operators, and of these trips, because it's very important to be here and to see with our own eyes, as Morocco and the northern region has nothing to fear, that people can circulate, that the measures are there, that we pay a lot of attention. But we need to adapt so that one day we can open the borders again.   

Spain and Morocco, two neighbouring countries, should we work together to get out of the crisis?

Absolutely, it's a win-win collaboration. I wanted to remind you that before the pandemic we were trying to work on co-marketing with the Costa del Sol region between Morocco and southern Spain as a single product, which is why our initiative that took place at a meeting in February 2020, we had to launch this co-marketing brand to demonstrate the sales force of these two regions. This shows the good initiative of being able to work hand in hand.

Do we need each other?

Spain needs Morocco and vice versa. Today we are like a couple, we cannot separate, just like that, it is very important that we continue to work together, together we are stronger, more solid to face this pandemic and try to put in order the tourist exchanges. 

With all the security measures?

Not only from the tourist point of view, we must also collaborate from the sanitary point of view so that our tourists feel sheltered within the same framework of action and rules.  

What message would you like to send to the Spanish? What does Tangier offer to the Spanish?

I would say only one thing to the Spanish, Morocco loves you and you to Morocco

Hassan Bargach, President of the Regional Council of Tourism of Rabat, Salé and Kenitra

What do you expect from this type of initiative?

The important thing is to have hope, we have spent 6 months of crisis, and, to date, we have not yet recovered, but the hope lies in attracting new operators and in greasing the tourist machine. And this hope makes us a little more optimistic about the future. 

Do you think that we will be able to make sure that there is no fear for people to travel again, to move around and reactivate our lives?

Naturally, human beings need to live in society, they need a social life, but unfortunately with this pandemic we have to take steps to distance ourselves and be careful.  However, we have to learn to live like this for a few months until we find the remedy. 

Do you think that Moroccans and Spaniards should work together to overcome the crisis?

Both Morocco and Spain are taking the necessary measures to stop the spread of the pandemic that could collapse the hospitals. There has been such an overflow in cities like Madrid and Barcelona that they have tightened up the measures. In my opinion, I think that both states are taking these kinds of measures so that it does not continue to spread. We cannot live like this forever, it is not possible. 

Do you think that Morocco can resist only with local tourists? 

It is very difficult to live only with local tourism, at this time. Tourism is kept going by local tourism, but I think we need to wait to find the ultimate cure. Now you can come to Morocco with a 72-hour PCR, which means opening up our space to let international tourists know that they can come, taking the security measures. Before we couldn't leave the house, but now we can travel, as long as we are careful. 

Ghofrane El Ammari and Rida Rahoui Business address Hilton hotel in Tangier

What do you expect or need from this meeting on the part of Spain?

The proximity between Spain and Tangier is 14 km away, there is still much to discover. I've been traveling in the south of Spain and I think there's a lot in common and why not discover the north of Morocco in an opportunity like this and in a hotel like this, where we have the privilege of having you with us, because if we are next to Tetouan, Chefchaouen, the Mediterranean Sea, there is much to discover. 

Can cinema help?

In Tetouan we have an activity that can be done to visit the scenes of the "Time between Seams" a series that was shot in Tetouan. Tangier has a lot of history, is a city that I have wanted since I was a child, but I want you to want it too. You will live a unique experience among us and for that I am here to make you discover the city and the hotel.

Do you think that with the collaboration of all of us is how we can overcome this pandemic?

Yes, for sure. Last summer I travelled all over Europe with clients and agencies. But this summer we have done it with local people from the city, from the country, who are from Rabat and Casablanca who have given us the opportunity to work because during the whole year we are not going to have a local market. 

Do you think that right now Spain and Morocco complement each other or are they competitors in the tourism field?

They complement each other.  Of course they complement each other, there is a lot of history between us, I speak Spanish.

But with regard to the North American market...

I believe that they complement each other, as our colleague said. There are many golf courses in southern Spain and northern Morocco alike. You can live the experience of playing golf between the two continents. Even as it sounds, it sounds very good. 

Oscar Padilla is the commercial representative in Morocco of the Jumbo Tours group.

What objective do you pursue in these meetings?

The intention that we have with this type of meetings that are of proximity is to try that the travel agencies that have to transmit the product to their clients see that we live in an atmosphere of security, where they can come where the things are well done, where there are some parameters that are going to protect their client and that the products and the services are very competitive. 

Is there enough confidence for people to react, losing their fear, but without losing respect, with the security measures?

I think that the problem we have is that we have become very afraid of things, a little because of the media that is reminding us all day long of the problem that exists, but then when you go down to the field and come here then you discover that things are not as complicated as they seem.

Will the situation return to normal?

It's true that we have to wait until the countries finish normalizing the states of alarm, remove the RCPs so that people can travel with some security. As soon as that happens and the communication is real and people see what the destinations are like and see how they can come to any country or around Spain and Morocco mainly, which is also next door for little money and also with a good service and good security, surely people need to leave. Everyone in the end with work, family ... we need a part of relief. The theme of the trip is the part that comforts us the most in the end. 

What we are seeing is that the neighbors in the North and South of Europe need each other to get ahead. By working together, it is easier to overcome the crisis of the pandemic.

A good part of the Moroccan market is the Spanish market. The Moroccan, loves to go to Spain, right now because of the state of alarm that does not allow the Moroccan citizen to travel abroad, but of course it is very important, because Morocco has a lot of family abroad in Spain and one of the main destinations, for example, at the level of Spain is the Costa del Sol.

Is Morocco well known in Spain?

Morocco is the great unknown of the Spanish people, that is to say we have it very near but we do not come much and here there is a very interesting country to discover with similar but very different customs at the same time. At the level of quality-price-service it is the great destination for the Spanish. 

Roya Lamine. From Saba's House

How is your riad in Tangier?

It is a riad that is in the kasbah (old neighborhood located in the medina) of Tangier, you can reach the doors by car. It is possible to organize the stay of the clients with guided visits to the city of Tangier. The riad has 6 rooms, only for adults, with king size beds. 

Is it an exclusive riad?

The clients that usually count on the riad are VIP clients, like for example the president of Chad. They can rent the whole riad, in this case with children. Other important clients have been the former president of Barça and presidents of Italian banks. People interested in a special, different product that is in the kasbah of Tangier, the medina, the old town.

Do you think that this initiative can make your ryad better known from Spain ?

I think so, it is one of the objectives, the communication we do is by word of mouth. That in Spain this special product is known.

Don't you work in collaboration with other operators?

We are a small ryad with only 6 rooms, we can't work with big operators. We work with small agencies, with groups of 12 people maximum. I'm in Booking.

What kind of space do you have?

We have a Lounge, a Moroccan lounge, a fireplace area, a piano bar, a hammam-spa, and the terrace with views. 

How are you resisting the crisis?

We are not resisting, we are dying. We receive some local clients like from Casablanca, but it is very difficult. 

Have you been open recently?

It's a new product that we opened in February of last year, where we received Vip clients something that we wanted from the beginning, but with this pandemic we haven't been able to work, but like everyone else. It is very difficult. At the beginning we were doing very well with VIP clients but now we are suffering the crisis like everyone else.