La Mamounia and its new collection of restaurants, including the “Tea room by Pierre Hermé”, but also the Royal Mansour, the Oberoi Marrakech, the Palais Ronsard or the Amanjena… As the symbol of the city, its Majorelle garden, the jewels of the Marrakech hotel industry are gradually reviving activity after long months of sleep.
A strong signal of the reopening of Morocco to tourism, even if the travel formalities remain quite restrictive.
The state of emergency has been extended until November 10 due to the health situation linked to Covid-19, which has made 173,632 sick in the country to date and 2,928 deaths according to John Hopkins University.
To enter the country, French travelers no longer need to present a serological test.
On the other hand, if they are over 11 years old, they must present a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours as well as a confirmed reservation in a classified hotel and tourist establishment (riads included) or an invitation from a company. Moroccan.
A health form must also be completed when leaving the plane.
Read also: Morocco: the formalities to travel there this fall
Once there, wearing a mask is compulsory in public places and by car from two people, and its absence punishable by a fine of around 30 euros.
Resumption of flights
Low cost airlines are also starting to redeploy their wings.
Transavia, back in the country since August 26, serves Marrakech in particular from Paris-Orly, Lyon and Nantes as well as Agadir, Casablanca and Oujda from Paris-Orly.
From Lyon and Nantes, the company also operates flights to Agadir in October and December and connects Montpellier to Marrakech at the same time.
For its part, Ryanair has resumed its connections between Paris-Beauvais and Marrakech since October.
In addition to its special flight program, Royal Air Maroc provides numerous connections from Paris and the province, including a daily flight to Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat and Casablanca from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Air Arabia has around 40 weekly flights from Paris-CDG and the province.
For its part, Air France plans an average of 17 to 19 flights per week from Paris-CDG to Casablanca, 10 to 14 for Rabat and 8 to 10 for Marrakech in November and December.
Health label for hotels
If Casablanca remains subject to a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Marrakech regains some of its colors.
In the Ocher City, in the wake of the Radisson Blu, nearly a hundred hotels have reopened, often with tempting price offers including for pool days (list regularly updated on www.visitmarrakech.com ).
About fifty riads out of the 400 members of the Association of Guest Houses are also operational again, with the key to a health commitment charter.
As for accommodation, strict protocols have been put in place and the Ministry of Tourism has just launched a digital platform with the award of a “welcome safely” label for Tourist Accommodation Establishments (EHT).
Without waiting for this initiative, hotels had already put in place sanitary procedures as well as classified restaurants (wearing a mask, distancing) and shops.
While life resumes in Guéliz, the modern district with its shops and restaurants (open until 11 p.m.), the medina is still far from its usual effervescence.
Many bazaars and restaurants keep the door closed and, if we can note the return of horse-drawn carriages, orange juice stalls and eateries, Jemaa El Fna does not attract the crowds on great days.
Neither flutes of snake charmers, nor Gnaoua drums.
Without the clamor that usually ignites it at the end of the day, the "crazy place" is strangely muffled ... But the resumption of flights, the very first of which is purely tourist oriented, 150 clients for Club Med Marrakech la Palmeraie, is posed on October 10 under the cheers of those in charge of tourism, seems a ray of hope.
Marrakech without the crowds
If we can note the return of the horse-drawn carriages, orange juice stalls and restaurants, the Jemaa El Fna square does not attract the crowds of great days.
Anne-Claire Delorme
We can already rejoice with the Marrakchis to find places forgotten during the confinement: the Museum of Confluences of the Dar El Bacha palace or the Secret Garden and its oasis of the medina.
After the Majorelle Garden on October 1, the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts and the Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech Museum (mYSLm) reconnect with the public this week.
A godsend for travelers who can enjoy these usually busy places in peace - the Majorelle Garden welcomes up to 4,000 visitors a day in high season.
This also applies to golf courses, which have almost all put their courses back into service, as well as for excursions in the region.
There remains the question of travel between cities.
Most remain subject to authorization, pending their lifting requested by tourism professionals.
The procedure remains tedious except to go through the tour desk or the concierge of his hotel, or to ask upon arrival for a travel authorization from the office of the wilaya (prefecture) of the airport.
