Azerbaijani and Morocco citizens will now be able to visit these two countries without visa requirements.
The decision came after the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed a Law on the mutual elimination of the visa requirements for persons holding regular international passports. However, the initial agreement was signed on May 4, 2024, in the city of Banjul, VisaGuide.World reports.
During his working visit to Gambia in May, Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, highlighted the current cooperation agenda, stating the extensive potential for development in trade, energy, education, and other domains, as well as inter-parliamentary relations between Azerbaijan and Morocco.
The Foreign Minister also underscored the importance of contacts and mutual support within multilateral platforms such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in advancing bilateral ties.
Morocco Issuing Its E-Visas to Azerbaijanis Since January 2023
Morocco started issuing electronic visas for Azerbaijan in January of last year, allowing them to stay for 30 days in the country within 180 days after the visa issuance. Similar to Azerbaijan, during the same period, Moroccan authorities started issuing electronic visas to three other countries:
- India
- Guatemala
- Jordan
The move was a part of the Moroccan government’s effort to boost its tourism industry by welcoming more internationals and promoting the North African state as a preferred destination for tourism and business.
According to the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan, the number of Moroccan tourists increased by 24 percent from January to July 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
1,740 Morrocan Tourist Visited Azerbaijan in 2023 Alone
The data further show that in 2023, 1,740 Moroccan tourists visited Azerbaijan, and the number of Moroccan tourists visiting Azerbaijan during the first two months of 2024 increased by nearly 2.5 times compared to the same period last year.
Moreover, the latest data from Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism reveals that tourist arrivals reached an impressive 7.4 million during the first six months of 2024. This marks a 14 percent increase compared to 2023 and a spectacular 38 percent jump from 2019. The ministry celebrates this growth, aiming to attract over 15 million tourists by the end of the year.
Morocco’s tourism sector is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, with 7.4 million tourists visiting the country in the first half of 2024. This figure represents a 14 percent rise from the same period in 2023 and a significant 38 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.