2024-07-09 22:09:45
“The year 2023 has been one of the best for Morocco as a destination in terms of outbound tourism from India… and the future outlook is even brighter,” Pranav Kapadia, Founder and Director of Global Destinations, a renowned travel solutions provider in India, told MAP at the 2024 edition of the Outbound Travel Market (OTM).
Individual, family and luxury travel are increasingly popular, he said, highlighting the perception of Morocco as a “magnificent destination that offers a unique experience is well established.”
The introduction, in January 2023, of the e-visa for entry into Morocco without conditions for Indian nationals played a crucial role in this dynamic, facilitating administrative procedures for Indian travelers and making the destination more accessible than ever, noted Mr. Pranav.
However, the perception of Morocco remains quite niche in the Indian market at present, Mr Pranav said, emphasising the need to develop it more significantly.
“We currently offer luxury travel and tailor-made FIT (Free Independent Traveller) travel, but there is much broader potential to be exploited,” he said.
The operator cited the lack of direct air link between India and Morocco as one of the major challenges faced by Indian travellers, forcing them to combine their trip with another destination.
India’s travel market is one of the fastest growing markets globally. India’s outbound tourism is estimated to surpass $42 billion by 2024.
In Morocco, the number of Indian visitors increased significantly over the past year, posting a 120% increase compared to 2022, reaching 28,703 tourists.
Last year was also marked by the opening of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) office in Delhi, aimed at strengthening cultural and economic ties between Morocco and India and stimulating human exchanges.
The UNWTO Trade Show, which opened its doors on Thursday in Mumbai (western India), aims to be one of the essential events for international tourism professionals seeking to penetrate the market of the most populous country in the world.
As part of this exhibition, which runs until February 10, the ONMT has set up a 150 m2 stand, where 10 Moroccan incoming travel agencies are also present, thus providing an ideal platform to present Morocco’s tourist offering to Indian and international tour operators and increase the Kingdom’s reputation as a preferred destination for travelers.
With the participation of over 600 exhibitors and the attraction of over 35,000 professionals from over 60 countries, including representatives from 30 Indian states, this 2024 edition promises unprecedented scale and diversity.
As the gateway to the Indian tourism market, OTM has also emerged as the No. 1 travel trade show in Asia in terms of quality of venue and facilities, quality of buyers and sellers and overall return on investment, according to a survey conducted by global research agency Ipsos.
It provides a platform for exhibitors to interact with a diverse audience including travel agents, tour operators, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) organizers and film, television and content producers.
2024-07-09 22:09:45