Strengthening Dakhla's Global Connectivity A New Era for Tourism

Thursday 14 November 2024 - 09:09

In a landmark agreement signed on Wednesday in Dakhla, the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) and the airline Ryanair have announced the launch of two new direct air routes connecting Dakhla with Madrid, Spain, and Lanzarote, Canary Islands, starting January 2025. The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Craftsmanship, and Social Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, and Ryanair’s CEO, Eddie Wilson.

This strategic memorandum of understanding, covering the next four tourist seasons, outlines plans for Ryanair to strengthen the air connectivity of Dakhla, a growing destination in the tourism sector, particularly for water sports enthusiasts. The new routes, with two weekly flights each, mark the beginning of expanded international access to Dakhla.

Ryanair’s partnership with ONMT positions the airline as the fourth direct international carrier to Dakhla, following Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Binter Canarias, and Transavia. These new air connections will boost the number of international seats at Dakhla Airport, doubling its current capacity and making Spain the largest source market for visitors to Dakhla, surpassing France.

The announcement is part of ONMT’s ongoing efforts to enhance Morocco's tourism visibility globally, especially as part of the "Light in Action" tourism roadmap. The ONMT and Ryanair plan joint promotional campaigns to highlight the tourism potential of Morocco and the new air routes.