According to tour operators, the resumption of direct flights to Morocco will increase interest in this year-round destination, which has its own audience in Russia.

Changes were made to the decision of the Operational Headquarters to open new destinations for international flights. So, the tourist Casablanca became the point of arrival in Morocco instead of Rabat.

The operational headquarters informed on the opening of air links with eight new countries. Once again, either little-demanded or closed for tourists destinations are opened. The number of flights to Egypt and Greece has increased.

"Morocco is open for Russian tourists. Two documents only are needed upon arrival: a negative PCR test for COVID-19, made no earlier than 72 hours before the trip, and confirmation of the reservation of accommodation. A visa is not required," the message from the Moscow office of the National tourism Board of Morocco says.

Flights and tourist traffic from Russia amidst pandemic (weekly update)

The Rosaviation website has published another order on the permits for airlines to perform international flights. Carriers have received the right to fly to many popular foreign destinations.

The Russian tourist flow to Morocco continues to decline steadily. The Russian share in the total foreign tourist flow in Morocco is extremely small: less than 0,1%.

Royal Air Maroc, national air company of Morocco has concluded the code sharing agreement with S7 Airlines. This partnership with S7 Airlines allows Royal Air Maroc to widen the network in Russia. Now the company has the direct flights to Casablanka from Moscow on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Samir Sussi, the director of the Russian representative office of the Moroccan National Tourist Office, reported on the results of the 2018 tourist traffic. The year 2018 has ended, and Morocco wishes that following the results of the year the number of tourists from the Russian Federation will be about 55 thousand, which is 10% more than last year.

Flights from Moscow to Agadir on 9, 12 and 16 October, which according to the original plans have to complete the summer charter chain of ANEX Tour to Morocco, canceled. This information was confirmed in the press service of the tour operator, explaining the company's decision to optimize the flight program. “Tourists who have already booked tours for the dates will be offered alternative destinations or cancellation with a refund of money”, - assured the Head of PR-department of ANEX Tour Alain Khitrova.

“About 100 thousand Russian tourists can visit Morocco in 2017”, - said the Director of the National Moroccan Tourism Office Samir Soussi Reach. "We expect to expand cooperation with the Russian tourist business, and this year we wish, that 100,000 tourists from Russia can come to us", - he said at the Spring-Summer17 conference, organized by Coral Travel and Sunmar tour operators. Earlier, he reported, that according to the results of 2016, Morocco expects to receive about 70 thousand Russians, while in 2015 this figure was 30 thousand. The tourist flow to the main Moroccan Agadir resort has tripled in the last year - from 7 thousand to 30 thousand Russian Tourists.

“The tourist flow from Russia to the main Moroccan resort of Agadir increased in this year by more than three times”, - reported the press service of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) with reference to the representative of the Ministry of Tourism in Agadir Fatuaka Abdelaziz. "The growth of tourists from Russia amounted 300% at the beginning of this year and in the high season (from May to August) - 500%.

“Moroccan authorities have reduced prices for hotels by 30% for the Russian market”, - said the director of the National Moroccan Tourist Office in Moscow Samir Riahi Sousse in an interview to “Bulletin of ATOR”. “It is one of the elements of a new strategy to promote Morocco on the Russian market and this policy of special tariffs will continue in the winter season", - he added.

Morocco plans to increase the number of Russian tourists visiting the country, up to 200-300 thousand in the next three years, the general director of the National Office of Tourism of Morocco Zuiten Abderrafie told. "We know that Morocco is not a mass destination for Russians.