Press release
14-04-2010

The flight disruption, generated last week by the ash cloud from Iceland volcano, has obviously affected the traffic of the European sky and the flow of departures of foreign tourists from Morocco . Faced with this situation characterized by an acute lack of visibility, the Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft has held several meetings of consultation with the National Federation of Tourism (NFT) and the National Federation of Hotel Industry (NFHI). A series of urgent measures, in coordination with the Tourism Regional Centres (TRC) of the major tourist destinations, the sector's actors and the local authorities, have been launched to help relieve the long wait of the passengers who are blocked in our country.

1-Assistance and information

Reception points have been set up in all airports, as well as in RTC, to provide the passengers with assistance and information about the cancellation of their flight.

The national company, Royal Air Maroc, has also been mobilized by putting in place a crisis unit and a call center open 24h/24 (Free phone, number 08 9000 0800).

The National Office of Airports (NOA) has taken emergency measures intended to make the long wait of the passengers easier (additional staff, access to free wifi, food distribution, etc...). A crisis unit of the NOA meets several times a day to adjust the emergency measures.

2- Accommodation

  Hotel operators of the main tourist destinations have been mobilized by taking care of tourists, and that is all thanks to discounts ranging from 30% to 70%, depending on the regions and availability.
Moreover, they remain supportive of their partners' tour operators by not charging for the stay of tourists who have not yet arrived.

Finally , alternative solutions to each case are provided by local authorities to accommodate free of charge tourists deprived of resources in Centres of Social Services (CSS).

3 -Repatriation

Royal Air Maroc has mobilized all its resources by increasing frequencies on destinations where air traffic has been restored.
In addition, the international and tourist road carriers have provided tour operators and tourists with new, air-conditioned tourist passenger vehicles, as needed, with preferential prices.

Aware of the impact of this situation on tourists visiting our country, the Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft keeps on holding meetings with all the actors concerned so that they should take the necessary decisions on due time.

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