Morocco optimistic for Israeli tourism boost as ties improve

Morocco is expecting to receive tourists from Israel after the two countries agreed late last year to resume diplomatic ties and relaunch direct flights.

The agreement was part of a deal brokered by the United States.

Reuters reports that although a small number of Israeli tourists visited Morocco, many stayed away due to a lack of direct flights and diplomatic ties. 

"This is the main reason the number of Israeli tourists will increase significantly," the head of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat, David Govrin, said.

Tourism minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui is expecting 200,000 Israeli visitors in the first year following the resumption of direct flights. 

Morocco is attractive due to its Jewish history as home to pilgrimage sites, attracting tourism that could benefit specialist operators.

"I was quite afraid to go previously, because it's an Arab country, even though I was told that the tours there were fine. Now that there is peace, I think I can go without fear," a retired Israeli teacher Rivka Sheetrit was quoted as saying.

"When the skies reopen I plan to go." 

Morocco received about 13 million yearly foreign tourists before the pandemic.

Its tourism revenue dropped 53.8% to 36.3 billion dirhams ($3.8 billion) in 2020, according to Reuters.