DMCs based in Morocco have now shifted their focus to the meetings and incentives segment from China, encouraged by the removal of visa requirements for Chinese travellers in June 2016.
Lesley Sanchez, managing director of Agadir-based Complete Tours, said: “Without (the need for) visas, it is the right time to double our efforts in China. The removal of visa requirements saw our leisure business from China triple in 2H2016. Getting a visa in the past used to take between two weeks to a month, and tourists had to disclose their bank statements as well as produce a letter from their employers in order to get a visa.”
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
Complete Tours aims to tap first-tier Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai through its sales offices there. Sanchez explained that with Emirates’ move to deploy A380s – instead of the A330s – on its Beijing and Shanghai routes to Casablanca, group sizes could potentially double.
Equally enthusiastic, Sidi Mohamed Cherif Alami, manager at Atlas Voyages, said: “Morocco is a new destination – and complements (visits to) Turkey and Egypt – for Chinese groups looking for a cultural destination rich in Arabic and Muslim history.
“We also offer very good value. A room in a five-star local brand in Marrakesh costs between US$100 to US$150 a night, while an international five-star property can cost between US$150 to US$200 a night.”
Sidi added that there were unique experiences that Morocco could offer Chinese groups such as camel rides, zip-lining in the Atlas Mountains, hot air ballooning, and historical and museum visits.
Headquartered in Casablanca, Atlas Voyages has 17 branch offices in main tourist cities such as Marrakesh, Agadir, Tangier, Casablanca and Fez. It opened three sales offices in China last year, in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Also eyeing China’s meetings and incentives market is Menara Tours, headquartered in Marrakesh.
Its FIT & groups director, Mounir Samir, said: “We plan to open a sales and marketing office in Beijing next year, and participate in B2B events in China. The incentive market is a lucrative one with delegates spending three to four times more than their leisure counterparts.”
The Moroccan National Tourist Office is doing its part to attract Chinese event groups, such as through regular fam trips for Chinese agents and relevant media.
In addition, a source told TTGmice that a Chinese film crew was slated to visit Morocco end-May to produce a reality show for a Chinese channel, which would “give the destination better brand awareness and create more interest among Chinese travellers”.
