Moroccan tourism update

Recently we mentioned that there was expected to be an influx of Italians coming to Morocco (a 30% increase is the figure given) and now according to our friend BO18, the Russians are on their way. While the possibility of a new air route between Agadir and Moscow would be a great help, the groundwork was laid last year as we reported in November - The Russians are coming - King Mohammed VI has sent a message via Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the Russian President Vladimir Putin, offering Russian citizens visa-free entry. Putin responded by giving strong support to the move and issued a message which said in part..."The decision will definitely encourage tourism and business contacts between our nations."

Last year we also mentioned the growth in trade between the two countries: According to the latest full year figures issued by the Moroccan trade statistics office, the country imported 6.72 billion dirhams (615 million euros / 719 million dollars) worth of Russian goods, particularly clothing, other fabrics and paper and packaging materials.

Its exports to Russia that year, worth 727 million dirhams (about 66 million euros / 78 million dollars), consisted mainly of fish and fisheries products, canned foods and textiles.

Meanwhile, Morocco Savvy, is reporting that Royal Air Maroc is about to start flying into Atlanta and that Ryanair is cancelling the route between Girona (Barcelona) and Marrakech, which were due to start next month. As we have reported previously, Ryaniar seems to be in all kinds of trouble and has still not sorted out the mess that began when it jumped the gun, advertising flights for which it did not have approval.

In an interesting post to Technorati "sturky" had this to say:

Two weeks ago I booked a flight from Marrakesh to Girona for April.

By accident, I found out on the internet they would drop the route.(A press release from ryanair) Funny, two days ago it was still possible to book the flight, but now it is not a part of their network anymore. The route Was planned to start at the end of March and tickers were for sale since +/- 1 month.

So, Ryanair is playing with me and they stay within the rules of the European Airline. That rule says that they can cancel flights at least 2 weeks before departure without any reason. Btw, they didn't sent me an email yet, nor anything to see in my booking on the website. they have time enough. Ok, i get my money back but have to search for a alternative for this piece of my trip.

That means, Ryanair can just offer flights on new rout(es) and if the interest for the route not is what expected, they just cancel the flights and route for another route wich give more profit. And ....if they cancel your flight, You have to ask back the money.

It is a free and the best market test for ryanair

What "sturky" didn't mention is the fact that Ryanair refuse to repay the tax component of the bookings. Many people have attempted to recoup them, but come up against a coperate stonewall. Shame Ryanair Shame.

But, to happier things. With tourist numbers up in Morocco, there remains one important question to be asked. How many Moroccan tourist guides speak Azerbiajani. Why? Because according to a report from Baku, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Morocco, Sabir Agabeyov, has announced that there is a plan to create an Azerbaijan-Moroccan Intergovernmental Economic Co-operation Commission. The Ambassador said that the Governments of both countries have already begun the negotiations on this issue and that tourism was part of the plan.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news