Morocco and India plan direct flights to boost trade and tourism

Tuesday 04 February 2025 - 13:31

By: Zahouani Ilham

Morocco and India plan direct flights to boost trade and tourism

Morocco and India are in discussions to establish direct air routes, aiming to strengthen their commercial and tourism ties. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on both nations, aligning with the dynamic growth of their bilateral relations, marked by increasing investments in key sectors and rising tourist flows.

The potential launch of direct flights reflects the growing number of official visits and partnerships between the two countries. In 2024, trade relations continued to expand, creating favorable conditions for such air connections. These direct routes would simplify travel, making it more accessible for business operators and tourists alike.

Growth in Trade and Tourism

In 2024, trade between Morocco and India reached $2.4 billion, with significant growth across multiple sectors. Morocco has become a key supplier of phosphate-based fertilizers to India. Additionally, industrial cooperation has deepened with the establishment of a defense vehicle manufacturing plant by Tata Advanced Systems in Morocco.

Tourism is also on an upward trajectory. Over 40,000 Indian tourists visited Morocco in 2024, representing a 43% increase from the previous year. Since 2019, arrivals from India have surged by 150%, thanks in part to the introduction of electronic visas that have greatly facilitated travel. These figures highlight India's growing interest in Morocco for both leisure and business opportunities.

In this context, Morocco's ambassador to India confirmed ongoing negotiations with airlines from both countries to finalize direct flight agreements. Such connections would significantly reduce travel time and create new opportunities in trade and investment, particularly in sectors like defense, information technology, and logistics. Morocco also plans to diversify its exports to India by including fruits, further enhancing bilateral trade.

Additionally, out of 385,738 electronic visas issued by Morocco in 2024, Indian nationals accounted for 36,690, marking a 52% increase compared to 2023.