Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad on Monday announced that nationals from Jordan, India, Guatemala, and Azerbaijan will benefit from the country’s electronic visa starting from January 10, 2023.
Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) quoted the ministry’s statement as saying that the decision is part of Morocco’s efforts to digitize its public administration service, both at the national and internal levels.
The statement added that these reforms notably target consular services in the country’s diplomatic missions and consulates.
Launched earlier this year, the e-visa system aligns with the Moroccan government’s ambitions to boost the tourism sector and promote the North African country as a “favored destination for tourism and business,” indicated the source.
The move would also save tourists and business travelers wishing to visit the country from long, tiring bureaucratic procedures to collect a regular paper visa, and serves as an alternative to visas issued at the borders.
In July 2022, Morocco announced the launch of Acess Maroc, an online platform facilitating the process of obtaining e-visas, which are valid for 180 days after they are issued.
The service became available for foreigners from a total of 49 countries as of July 10 of this year, before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the addition of four countries today.
The e-visa only concerns foreign nationals from countries that previously needed a non-electronic visa to enter Morocco. The e-visa system is part of a series of measures that Morocco has introduced to revive its tourism sector following COVID-induced disruptions.
Morocco’s efforts to help its tourism sector emerge from the COVID mist appear to be bearing fruit. The Department of Studies and Financial Forecasts revealed earlier this month that the country’s tourism revenues reached MAD 71.1 billion ($6.77 billion) by the end of October 2022, an increase of 148.9% compared to the same period last year.
SOURCE: Morocco news