Marruecos reabre su espacio aéreo, pero mantiene cerrado el tráfico marítimo con España

Moroccan air borders are reopened after more than two months closed due to severe restrictions to curb the expansion of the Omicron variant. This decision is a great relief for the country's tourism sector and a joy for the nearly 5 million Moroccans living abroad. After the border closures were ordered, Rabat organised several special repatriation flights, although not all citizens were able to return to the country.

Several airlines such as Emirates Airlines and Ryanair have already announced the resumption of flights to Morocco. "We reconfirm our partnership with Ryanair, the leading European airline, which will once again schedule flights to Morocco, which will be so beneficial for the entire national tourism sector," said Adel El Fakir, director general of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT). According to airline figures, Ryanair connects the Kingdom with 51 European airports, making it a major player in the development of traffic between Europe and Morocco with more than 117 routes and some 2.5 million seats.

With the reopening of borders, Morocco's major cities are preparing for the imminent arrival of tourists. According to media reports in the country, all those involved in tourism in the towns are mobilising to welcome travellers. "Our employees are vaccinated and we insist on their third dose to contribute to the recovery," Mehdi Amrari Joutey, owner of a restaurant in Marrakech, told Moroccan media outlet Le360. Despite the general happiness within the sector, there are still those who complain about the conditions of entry, considered by many to be "too restrictive".

The national health authorities have classified countries into three groups (A, B and C), depending on the epidemiological situation in each nation. A vaccination certificate is the main requirement for all tourists, regardless of their origin, and unvaccinated people will not be allowed to travel to Morocco. On the other hand, nationals from some of the 77 List B countries will also have to present a negative PCR test carried out less than 48 hours before embarking for the Kingdom. Likewise, all persons landing in the country will have to provide their details, information about their stay, mention the countries they have been to before and take antigen tests. The authorities also offer the possibility of "an additional test at the hotel or residence centre 48 hours after entry to the territory".

For these reasons, some people linked to tourism have expressed their rejection of these measures. "In addition to the three doses, the client is asked to undergo a PCR on departure and an antigen test on arrival. These reception conditions weigh heavily on the choice of a destination," Jalil Habti, owner of a travel agency, told Le360.

Losses in the last two years of the pandemic are estimated at 20 million travellers and 90 billion dirhams (80 million euros). To mitigate the damage, the government has designed an emergency plan for tourism-related businesses worth two billion dirhams (1.8 million euros). An international advertising campaign is also planned to promote travel to Morocco.

The Moroccan Ministry of Transport and Logistics has announced the reopening of the Kingdom's maritime borders, although routes with Spain will continue to be suspended. Moroccan ships will only call at French and Italian ports, as reported by the Ministry. Spanish ports were already excluded from Operation Marhaba (Operation Crossing the Strait) last summer amid the diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid. This dispute began with the entry of Brahim Ghali into Spain in April and escalated in May with the entry of thousands of migrants into the autonomous city of Ceuta.

For its part, Spain's Interior Ministry has ordered the resumption of repatriation flights of irregular migrants from the Canary Islands to Morocco, according to EFE news agency. Although, as the authorities point out, the permission will not be automatic and general, as health protocols must be fulfilled, and each case of repatriation must be authorised.