S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Morocco is betting on expanding direct flights to Brazil and promoting the country as a tourist destination among Brazilians to reach the goal of receiving 30 million tourists by 2030. In 2024, Morocco welcomed 17.4 million visitors, most of them from France and Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the WTM Latin America tourism fair, held earlier this week in S\u00e3o Paulo, the representative of the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) in Brazil, Mohamed Amine El Joudani, told ANBA that Morocco welcomed 40,000 Brazilian tourists last year, a number expected to be surpassed this year. By the end of February, 7,900 Brazilians had visited Morocco, a 51% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the local Ministry of Tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Joudani, the country is investing in improving its airport infrastructure, will build a high-speed train line between Casablanca and Marrakesh, and will host international events to promote its tourism. Later this year, it will host the Africa Cup of Nations, and in 2030 it will be one of the host countries for the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Royal Air Maroc<\/a> resumed flights to Brazil in December of last year, after two previous periods of operation in the country, between the 1970s and 1990s, and between 2013 and 2020. The general manager of Royal Air Maroc in Brazil, Othman Baba, said the average occupancy rate of the flight between Casablanca and S\u00e3o Paulo is over 80%. The airline currently operates three weekly flights between Casablanca and S\u00e3o Paulo and is already preparing to expand its offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn eight to ten months, we\u2019ll fly more than three flights. Our focus now is on five to six flights to S\u00e3o Paulo,\u201d he says. Rio de Janeiro, he adds, is also in the company\u2019s plans, which is still evaluating whether to make a stop in the Rio de Janeiro before heading to S\u00e3o Paulo or operate a direct flight between Morocco and Rio. \u201cMy preference is to fly separately to Rio and separately to S\u00e3o Paulo,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He says that, as the weekly frequencies increase, a new aircraft will likely be added to the route between Morocco and Brazil. As is already the case, it is expected to be a Boeing 787-9, one of the most modern aircraft in operation, capable of carrying 300 passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baba argues that the Rio de Janeiro destination is important because Rio is internationally recognized as a tourist destination and could even boost the arrival of tourists to Brazil. Both Baba and Joudani emphasize that Morocco is in a strategic geographical position between Brazil and Europe, as well as between Brazil and Africa. Joudani says that, once in Morocco, Brazilians have been opting for a tourist route that includes the imperial cities, such as Marrakesh, Fez, Meknes, and the capital, Rabat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another business opportunity to be explored by Royal Air Maroc, says Baba, is corporate travel for tourists from both Morocco and Brazil, particularly from the industry and agribusiness sectors. However, this route needs to be encouraged and presented to entrepreneurs, Baba says. For this, he relies on the support of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC<\/a>) and its counterpart in Morocco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more<\/em>: Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\nCorporate travel between Morocco and Brazil<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Royal Air Maroc return to S\u00e3o Paulo after 4 years<\/a>
Royal Air Maroc takes travel agents to S\u00e3o Paulo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n