Times of Oman
by Times News Service
Casablanca: The Sultanate and the Kingdom of Morocco discussed in Casablanca the ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries and to benefit from the investment opportunities available in the tourism and aviation sectors.
This came during the talks session held on the sidelines of inaugurating Oman Air’s Muscat-Casablanca route.
The Omani side was headed by Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrazi, Minister of Tourism, while the Moroccan side was headed by Mohammed Sajid, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Crafts and Social Economy.
The session reviewed the agreement signed between the Sultanate and the Kingdom of Morocco since 1985 in the field of regulating airspace services and the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in 2007, according to which the national carrier in both countries is entitled to conduct an unlimited number of flights for passengers and goods. The session also discussed means to increase investment in tourism sector and how to benefit from these agreements.
Al Mahrazi stressed the desire of the two sides to develop areas of cooperation in the tourism and aviation sectors, adding that the inauguration of Oman Air Muscat – Casablanca direct route will open great horizons in cooperation, whether by exchanging visits or increasing the number of tourists from both countries and other countries via Oman Air.
Separately, he said that the inauguration of Casablanca station reflects orientation of the Sultanate’s government to enhance joint Arab cooperation and develop the inter-Arab tourism sector. It also underscores the deep bilateral relations between the Sultanate and Morocco which was reinforced by the journey of the Arab traveller Ibn Battuta about 1,300 years ago.
On his turn, the Moroccan Minister praised the good ties between the two countries and expressed hope that the direct route of Oman Air to Morocco will enhance areas of cooperation in tourism and aviation.
He praised the Sultanate’s tourism potentials, its strategic location and proximity to the countries of Asia and the Far East, which allows the
Moroccan national carrier in the next stage to connect its destinations to these countries via Oman Air using share code.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Za’abi, CEO of the Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA) told reporters that the total number of passengers on indirect flights to Morocco in 2016 and 2017 was about 65 thousand passengers, which confirms that there is a need to launch this direct line between Muscat and Casablanca.
