Morocco has reopened to international arrivals from today after being closed since late November due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Adult arrivals need proof they are fully vaccinated, with UK travellers required to show their NHS Covid Pass. Children under 18 are exempt from this requirement.
But all arrivals aged six and above need proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of boarding. Children under six are exempt from the need for a test.
Adel El Fakir, director general and chief executive of the Moroccan National Tourism Office, said: “Morocco is open and welcoming guests, but health is the number-one priority. The conditions are the same for visitors as for Moroccans.”
He told Travel Weekly: “Masks are mandatory [in public places]. You need a vaccine passport to enter a restaurant. But there are no restrictions – no curfews on opening times.”
Some arrivals, selected at random, may be required to take a rapid or PCR test on arrival at the airport. However, they won’t be required to wait for the results. There is no hotel quarantine. Instead, anyone testing positive will be required to self-isolate in their accommodation until they test negative.
Any test on arrival will be free, but travellers who test positive will have to pay for follow up tests.
Ryanair and Royal Air Maroc flights were due to resume from today, British Airways flights from Thursday and Tui flights are expected to restart this month. The tourism office remains in discussions with other carriers including easyJet about returning.
El Fakir noted: “Morocco is a good place to fly into. The number of cases is quite low. We have more than 23 million people double vaccinated – 76% of the population over 12.”
The country previously reopened to visitors in June last year and El Fakir said: “We had a good season.”
He noted that before Omicron struck: “We had great bookings for the end of the year.”
Morocco drew about 600,000 UK arrival in 2019, making Britain it’s fourth-largest international market after France (4.2 million), Spain (2.3 million) and Germany (700,000). However, the UK was the second largest market by bed nights.