Morocco Opens Tourism Office In Brazil

(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – Morocco now has an official tourism office in São Paulo to promote itself as destination to Brazilians. The work started in September 2023, when Mohamed Amine El Joudani was appointed as representative of the Moroccan National tourist Office (MNTO ) in the Latin American country, but the office opened its doors as recently as last May.

The establishment of the office in São Paulo is part of the expansion strategy of the MNTO, with the opening of new representations across the globe to seek tourists in non-traditional markets. According to El Joudani, the countries that usually send out the most tourists to Morocco are European. Countries like Spain and France are just a short flight away from the Arab country in North Africa.

From Brazil, some 38,000 visitors go to Morocco every year, according to El Joudani. MNTO wants this number to grow. The representative says the average ticket of Brazilian tourist spending in his country is high.“I always say that my nearly 40,000 tourists are worth 300,000, because the average ticket is high,” he says.

This is the first time that the MNTO has an office in Brazil, according to El Joudani.“Brazil is a very important market for the international tourism industry,” he says, pointing out that many Brazilians travel to Europe, usually to visit two or three countries in one sweep, and Morocco can be included in the itinerary.“Besides direct visits, we could tap into this flow towards Europe.”

The office in São Paulo has initiated its activities to present Morocco and its tourist attractions to Brazilians by participating in industry shows, organizing fam trips and press trips, and holding roadshows across the Latin American country. The office is set to join Abav Expo, an exhibition to take place in Brasília in July.

The office aims to showcase Morocco as destination from three perspectives: group, luxury and corporate tourism. The first aims to foment travels sold as packages by tourism agencies. Morocco's big draw in this area is its culture and history, says El Joudani.“Brazilians like different cultures, history – they are a curious people that loves things that are different,” he says, adding that local cuisine is another lure.

As for luxury tourism, Morocco has expertise and infrastructure prepared for it, with high-end resorts, restaurants and hotels in its tourist cities, according El Joudani. The country also has the structure for major international corporate conventions and events, particularly in Marrakesh, for corporate. There are still other tourist attractions like the desert and its camels.

Last year Morocco welcomed 14.5 million visitors from across the world, a 34% increase from 2022, according to figures published on the MNTO's website. In addition to a growing number of visitors, the country is the host country of major global events like 2016's climate summit COP22, and 2030's World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

The MNTO's representative believes the tourism of Brazilians to Morocco will be strongly favored by the São Paulo-Casablanca direct flight to be restarted on December 7 by Royal Air Maroc, Morocco's flagship carrier. The air route was discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic and will return with three weekly flights, the Moroccan carrier announced.

El Joudani says he has high expectations for an increased tourism of Brazilians. The Moroccan-born tourism professional has lived in Brazil for 13 years, where he's always worked in the travel industry. El Joudani says he found in the tourism work a way to please both countries.“Showcasing the beauties of my birth country to my adopted country,” he says.

Read more:
Royal Air Maroc return to São Paulo after 4 years
Morocco one of the 2030 World Cup hosts

Translated by Guilherme Miranda

The post Morocco opens tourism office in Brazil appeared first on ANBA News Agency .

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