Latest news with #AchrafFayda
Ya Biladi
28-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco steps up at ITB China 2025 to attract Chinese tourists
The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) is actively participating in ITB China 2025, a key B2B travel trade show held from May 27 to 29 in Shanghai, announces a press release. With a 300 m² stand at the heart of the event, Morocco aims to position itself as a must-visit destination for Chinese travelers seeking authentic, safe, and high-quality experiences. «China is a priority market in our global strategy», said ONMT Director General Achraf Fayda, highlighting efforts to build stronger ties with Chinese tourism operators and drive growth through Morocco's unique appeal and new air connections. This presence includes over 600 exhibitors from 80 countries and more than 1,000 buyers and 15,000 travel professionals. As China's outbound tourism rebounds, reaching 130 million travelers in 2024 and an expected 155 million in 2025, Morocco aims to expand its market share. A highlight of ONMT's participation: the signing of a three-year strategic MoU with China's largest online travel agency. This partnership targets 1.15 million Chinese overnight stays in Morocco by 2028 and will enhance Morocco's image and visibility, including in Japan and South Korea. ONMT will also ink agreements with other major Chinese tourism players like FLIGGY, CITS, UTS, and Shanghai Youpai International Travel, focusing on key hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, with the goal of adding 100,000 overnight stays. This push aligns with Morocco's broader strategy to strengthen its presence in Asia, tap into high-value tourism flows, and solidify its status as a top global destination.
Morocco World
28-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
ONMT Seeks to Boost Morocco's Presence in Chinese Tourism Market
Rabat – Morocco's Tourism Office (ONMT) is keen to secure a stronger presence in the Chinese market, which presents key opportunities for the Moroccan tourism sector. The office announced its participation in the 2025 ITB China, which is taking place at the Shanghai World Exhibition between May 27 and 29. The office's goal is to promote Morocco as a top destination for Chinese travelers, ONMT said, noting that this market is a priority within its international expansion strategy. 'At ITB China, we are here to strengthen our relationships with Chinese tourism operators and co-create a new growth dynamic by capitalizing on Morocco's unique appeal and the new air connectivity being developed,' the statement quoted ONMT General Director Achraf Fayda as saying. Morocco is present at the exhibition with a stand of over 300 square meters, taking part in the exhibition alongside more than 600 international exhibitors from 80 countries. ONMT has stressed the importance of the Chinese travel market, which witnessed a spectacular recovery with 130 million outbound travelers in 2024. This number is expected to reach 155 million in 2025, according to UN Tourism. ONMT highlighted Morocco's active presence at the event by announcing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with China's largest online travel agency The partnership spans three years, starting spring 2025, with the aim of achieving an ambitious target of 1.15 million overnight stays by Chinese tourists in Morocco by 2028. The partnership also focuses on enhancing Morocco's tourism appeal, including in related markets like Japan and Korea. ONMT is also planning other partnerships with major players in the Chinese market, like Fliggy, CITS, UTS, and Shanghai Youpai International Travel. 'These agreements particularly target key source markets like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, with a global goal of 100,000 additional overnight stays,' ONMT concluded. Morocco welcomed 17.4 million tourists last year, and now aspires to attract more than 26 million tourists by 2030. ONMT has been expanding efforts to support this goal by launching several campaigns, aiming to attract tourists from different markets. The tourism sector is one of the main contributors to the country's economy. The Exchange Office said in February this year that travel revenues reached $11.1 billion in 2024, showing a growth of 7.5% compared to a year earlier.
Ya Biladi
16-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
ONMT positions Agadir-Taghazout as epicenter of French-Moroccan tourism
The annual congress of French Travel Companies (EDV) is being hosted in Agadir-Taghazout from May 15-18, 2025. This strategic choice by Morocco's National Tourism Office (ONMT) aims to strengthen relationships between tourism professionals from both countries. Over three days, more than 400 French decision-makers—including travel agencies, tour operators, transporters, and hoteliers—will gather to discuss the future of tourism, share industry trends, and develop market perspectives for 2025-2026. A professional workshop scheduled for Friday, May 16, will facilitate direct meetings between Moroccan operators, hoteliers, receptive agencies, institutions, and French decision-makers to foster commercial partnerships and develop new products. «Hosting this congress in the Agadir region demonstrates our commitment to bringing Moroccan and French tourism ecosystems closer together. It creates concrete opportunities for synergies and positions Morocco as a priority for French travel advisors», said Achraf Fayda, Director General of ONMT.
Morocco World
16-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
400 French Decision Makers to Attend ONMT-Supported Tourism Event in Agadir-Taghazout
Rabat – The Agadir-Taghazout seaside resort is hosting the annual congress of the Entreprises du Voyage (EDV) from May 15-18. Morocco's Tourism Office (ONMT) said in a statement that the organization of this event comes as part of a shared desire to boost ties between French and Moroccan tourism professionals. According to ONMT, the event seeks to provide an inspiring and business-friendly setting for tourism professionals from the t. The three-day congress is hosting over 400 French decision makers from the tourism sector, including travel agencies, tour operators, transport companies, and hoteliers, to discuss the future of tourism and growth strategies covering this year and next year's market. 'Hosting this congress in the Agadir region reflects our commitment to bringing the Moroccan and French tourism ecosystems closer,' ONMT director general Achraf Fayda said. The event serves as an opportunity to create synergies and showcase Morocco's premier destinations and to also place the North African country among the top priorities of French travel influencers, he added. As part of the event, today will mark a workshop in the format of a platform that serves participants to carry out direct meetings between French and Moroccan tourism operators. According to ONMT, Friday's workshop seeks to foster business partnerships and develop new offerings in addition to strengthening cooperation between both countries. France and Morocco share good bilateral ties that have grown in strength and significance through diplomatic relations and trade. A record of 4.88 million French visitors flocked to Morocco in 2023, representing over a third of the total 14.5 million foreign tourists the country welcomed that year. Morocco welcomed over 17 million tourists last year, and the goal is to host more than 26 million others by 2030. ONMT has been intensifying efforts to welcome tourists through the launch of several initiatives promoting Morocco as a premier destination for travelers from across the world. The country welcomed 5.7 million tourists in the first four months of this year alone, representing a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Tags: Africa TourismFrench tourists in Morocco
Ya Biladi
14-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco seeks «China Ready» certification to boost tourism
In a first for a North African destination, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) has launched the process to obtain the international China Ready certification, granted by the accredited agency CBISN, a partner of the Moroccan institution in Beijing. According to an ONMT press release, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to open up to high-potential tourist markets, confirming that Morocco «meets the standards of hospitality, communication, and services tailored to Chinese clientele»—with the goal of boosting tourist flows from the Middle Kingdom. The Chinese market is indeed «one of the most dynamic and demanding in the world», Achraf Fayda, Director General of the ONMT, emphasized that «this label is much more than a simple certification; it's a passport to a market of over 150 million traveling tourists each year, with strong purchasing power and a growing curiosity for cultural destinations». According to ONMT, obtaining the label requires a thorough audit of the destination, evaluating infrastructure, services, and tourism offerings to identify necessary adjustments. In parallel, operator training is essential. As part of this process, a China Ready workshop-seminar was held on May 7 in Rabat to raise awareness among national stakeholders about the realities of this market and to integrate them into the dynamic. «The next phase of the program involves organizing a major B2B event in Morocco, bringing together around sixty influential Chinese agencies to build strong commercial partnerships with Moroccan tourism operators», the statement adds. The following step will be the implementation of adapted services, including translating materials into Mandarin, accepting Chinese payment methods, and hiring Mandarin-speaking staff to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for Chinese travelers. With this certification, the ONMT aims to triple the number of Chinese tourists visiting Morocco by 2027, relying on strengthened partnerships with tour operators, airlines, and Chinese online booking platforms.
