Hundreds of thousands of Israeli tourists are expected to visit Morocco this year now that the kingdom has officially reopened its borders to visitors.
Morocco reopened its doors to international tourists on February 7 after a two-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the country’s tourism industry is swiftly developing a variety of travel packages tailored to Israeli travelers.
Henri Abikzer, owner of Rabat-based tour agency Fast Voyages and vice president of the Rabat Jewish community, estimates that at least 300,000 Israelis will visit Morocco by the end of the year.
“There are around 1 million Moroccan Jews or Jews of Moroccan descent in Israel,” Abikzer explained. “Many left about 30 to 40 years ago.”
He added, “Some are nostalgic and want to revisit their roots. We anticipate a significant influx of visitors during Passover, which will be followed by a period of pilgrimages to Jewish sites across southern, northern, and eastern Morocco.”
Morocco restored diplomatic relations with Israel in late 2020, joining the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan in signing normalization agreements. Prior to this, Israelis had to travel through third countries such as Turkey to visit Morocco.
Today, several airlines offer direct flights connecting Tel Aviv with Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Airlines including El Al, Israir, and Royal Air Maroc operate nonstop flights of approximately six hours, making travel between the two countries more accessible. Additionally, Israel’s Arkia Airlines is planning to launch direct flights in late March or April.
At its height in the mid-20th century, the Moroccan Jewish community numbered around 300,000. However, most Jews left following the establishment of Israel in 1948, and today, only a few thousand remain in Morocco.
