Rabat – The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) participated in the second edition of Travel Next Minas, held on August 16 and 17, with the aim of conquering the Brazilian market and attracting more Brazilian tourists.

The event convened over 5,000 industry professionals in the Expominas BH exhibition center in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern part of Brazil.

ONMT said in a statement that both Morocco and Brazil are committed to boosting tourism between the two nations by leveraging the rich cultural heritage and potential of both countries.

The statement highlighted the growth potential the Brazilian tourism market enjoys, “thanks to a pool of consumers with high purchasing power and a middle class that is gradually expanding.”

Mohamed Amine El Joudani, ONMT’s country manager, said in the statement that “Brazil is the leading South American country sending tourists to Morocco, with around 50,000 tourists each year.” 

The direct Casablanca-Sao Paulo flight route, operated by Royal Air Maroc (RAM), is set to resume on December 7, with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. El Joudani noted that these flights are expected to significantly increase the flow of Brazilian tourists. “Our ambition is to double their number to 100,000 over the next three years,” he told MAP.

Read also: Morocco, Brazil Laud ‘Strategic’ Ties During Throne Day Celebrations

El Joudani, who led the establishment of an office in Sao Paulo September of last year, underlined the importance of training Brazilian travel agents to ensure the success of this expansion.

In this respect, ONMT said it has worked closely with major tour operators such as Diversa, Abreu, and Orinter to better familiarize industry professionals with Morocco as a tourist destination. 

“Our strategy is to first train the professionals so they can effectively sell Morocco as a destination. Only then will we move on to a broader communication phase with the public,” he explained.

In addition to direct travel, ONMT aims to position Morocco as an “alternative destination” by capitalizing on the flow of tourists heading to Europe, particularly Portugal and Spain. 

The goal, El Joudani explained, is to include Morocco in their itineraries, “especially since Brazilians are attracted to the Kingdom’s millennia-old history, rich culture, and gastronomy.”