Coronavirus: Morocco reopens its borders to some foreign tourists

A Moroccan police officer distributes masks to fight the spread of the coronavirus in Marrakech, August 17, 2020. STR / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Morocco, the health situation linked to Covid-19 is still alarming but the government is partly reopening its borders to tourists.

Publicity

Read more

With our correspondent in Casablanca,

The Cherifian kingdom is facing the second epidemiological wave of the pandemic.

It has exceeded the 70,000 contamination mark for more than 1,300 deaths, and is under increasing pressure on its health system.

The country is still living at the rate of semi-confinement, with draconian health measures imposed on the populations, and an economy in slow motion, in particular because of the

.

On July 14, the Moroccan authorities had decided to partially open the borders for so-called special flights or repatriation, which only concerned Moroccans living abroad, and foreigners stranded in Morocco.

Boost to the economy

And this Sunday, September 6, the state made an unexpected decision: reopening to foreign tourists, under certain conditions, while

will probably be extended.

Foreigners will have the right to access Moroccan territory, provided they are not subject to the visa formality, to present a hotel reservation and a negative PCR test carried out 48 hours before their departure.

This only concerns nationals of countries from and to which Morocco already operates exceptional flights, in particular Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, the United States, Canada or even Turkey.

These countries represent the main tourist destinations for Morocco.

Good news for industry professionals affected since the start of the pandemic.

And undoubtedly a little boost for the national economy, to which tourism brings in nearly 7 billion euros per year.

This good news is partly due to Moroccan employers.

He worked behind the scenes with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow borders to be opened to foreigners.

This decision is effective from this Monday, September 7.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Morocco

• Coronavirus

• Tourism

On the same subject

In the turmoil, Royal Air Maroc plans to lay off a third of its staff

Coronavirus: Africa facing the pandemic on August 27, 2020

Coronavirus: Morocco reinstates restrictions after sharp rise in cases