Perhaps the most important thing you should know off the top is that Morocco has rolled back all of its previous Covid 19 policies that have effected travelers since the beginning of the health emergency. There are no longer requirements for vaccine passes or proof of vaccine nor are there requirements for PCR tests. Travel to Morocco is now completely normalized.
That said, Covid 19 continues to circulate and be of concern. What follows here is information that may be of help to you as you plan or consider travel to Morocco.
As you are hopefully well aware of by now, the COVID 19 (aka coronavirus) pandemic has adversely affected all of us — from the distant shores of Thailand to the maze of souks in the old Marrakesh medina. Brave first responders, nurses and doctors have put their lives on the line amidst a severe lack of proper safety gear. Restaurants and cafes are shuttered and literally, millions of people are now out of work and have lost their livelihoods. The travel industry, as you know, has been hit particularly hard.
With COVID 19 Still Circulating, Can I Still Book a Tour to Morocco?
Morocco reopened its borders on February 7, 2022. Travel quickly resumed for many of those eager to meet friends and family, as well as those who had been putting off that trip of a lifetime for so long! So yes… you can definitely book a tour to Morocco!
For those looking forward to planning 2023 trips, we are currently making reservations and demand is quite high. We can only assume at this point that travel will become progressively busier as it has now surpassed pre-Covid demand.
We do recommend making travel plans now, purchasing airfare a bit closer to your take-off date, and putting that journey of a lifetime on your calendar as a bright light at the end of this long, dark, pandemic tunnel, but also taking out the appropriate travel insurance.
What Are the COVID 19 Entry Requirements for Morocco?
Travelers are no longer required to provide PCR test results or proof of Covid 19 Vaccine. Most travelers only require a valid passport.
It should go without saying that you should keep abreast of the situation in your own country and the ongoing possibility of international travel being interrupted because of government intervention.
If you have already booked travel with us, we will work with you directly as the situation progresses and you are comfortable making plans.
Traveling Safely in Morocco with COVID 19
While dealing with the coronavirus in Morocco, we are blessed with physically distanced places, such as the vast Sahara, great beaches along the Southern Atlantic Coast, and incredible beauty of the Rif and Atlas Mountains. Because our tours are fully customizable, getting away from the crowds has never been much of a challenge. That said, with COVID 19 in Morocco, there are real challenges that we are meeting head on.
Over the past few months, we have worked with the Cleveland Clinic and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) to discover the best preventative measures while on tour in Morocco. We recognize that like any travel, there is no “zero-risk” situation, but through layering protection — PPE, hand sanitizer, physical distancing, et cetera — we can confidently say the risk is as minimal as possible. We’ve worked tirelessly with our guides and drivers to keep up-to-date with the latest information available concerning COVID 19 and our preventative measures. Here is an abbreviated list of some preventative measures you can expect:
- Groups will be limited to family and friends.
- Your private, chauffeured vehicle will be fully disinfected the day before your tour begins. If logistically possible, it will also be disinfected while on tour.
- Your driver will be fully vaccinated.
- Your driver will, at your behest, wear a mask or clear face guard at all times while driving or within 2 meters (6 feet) of any other person.
- Guides will wear masks throughout your tour if requested. If necessary for them to de-mask, they will maintain a distance of a minimum of 2 meters (6 feet), and only de-mask outdoors.
- We will ask you to be transparent and honest about your health while on tour with us.
- We will remain in contact and work with you to be ready for an evacuation plan if COVID 19 is detected with you or someone in your party.
What is the Current Situation of COVID 19 in Morocco?
As of today, many people are choosing to not wear masks and the numbers across the country are low. Without another variant on the horizon, like much of the world, Morocco believes it is moving toward an endemic phase of this virus.
Are people being vaccinated in Morocco?
The King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohamed VI, was the very first person in the country to receive the vaccine. This was all over the news. The people of Morocco have followed suit. Frontliners working in the hospitals, as well as essential workers, such as teachers, were all quickly vaccinated as well as anyone with chronic illness. The two vaccines most in use are produced by SinoPharm and Astro-Zeneca, with Pfizer added in August 2021.
From March – May of 2021, the restricted age of the vaccine was continuously lowered as the population received vaccines. By the beginning of the summer, anyone over the age of 40 was receiving the vaccine and by early August, everyone from the age of 12 on up was eligible to receive a free vaccine. Vaccines (Sinopharm, Astrozenaca, and Pfizer) have been rolled out extensively. At one point, 500,000 people were getting vaccinated daily. Daily vaccinations have plummeted in numbers as the country has vaccinated nearly 80% of its population.
Vaccinations remain readily available for everyone 12 years of age or older, while booster shots are available for anyone needing one.
Luckily, Morocco has had recent experience in extremely large, country-wide vaccine rollouts. In 2012 there was a large campaign to make sure 12 million Moroccans had their measles vaccine. Hundreds of well-staffed centers are spread throughout the country. Residents of Morocco have only to text their ID number to a local number and they are given their appointment and any follow up information.
Is it easy to get a PCR test in Morocco?
Over the past year, PCR testing has become a de facto standard in most international travel. Morocco has multiple PCR test centers in all major cities in Morocco. You can usually get same-day results, though it is better to plan for 24 hours.
For our travelers, we can now book a private nurse to come administer the PCR test in the comfort of your accommodation.
The cost of a PCR test is regulated at 400 dirhams (about 45 USD).
What has been the larger affect of Covid 19 in Morocco?
When the Moroccan government suddenly shuttered its borders, as a company, we had to quickly pivot. Though one never wants to deal with an emergency while on the tour of a lifetime, this is where our experience truly shined. We were able to leverage our extensive knowledge of Morocco, contacts in the government, and general travel know-how to get all of our clients on flights back home. Unfortunately, other travelers were not so lucky. There were numerous reports about the thousands of travelers and students with study abroad programs unable to get home from Morocco and other countries. Once our clients were home safe, we worked diligently within these communities to share what information we had and try to make getting home a reality for them.
When the coronavirus situation exploded…we were unbelievably lucky to be on the receiving end of help from Journey Beyond Travel. Their efforts to find “escape” options for us (the US government was “missing in action”) — and to communicate them as promptly and accurately as possible — were invaluable. I cannot imagine being in better hands. The grace and professionalism showed us during a time when they were being pulled from all sides were beyond anything we could have expected. – Linda Haines, March 2020
Economically, though, it looks to be a long recovery with many of those working in tourism unsurprisingly hit hardest. If you want to read more about how many of the unofficial workers in Morocco are fairing during the course of this pandemic, ABC News did a brief story on this you can read here: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/lockdowns-kill-jobs-africas-informal-workers-suffer-69785841. Needless to say, these are communities we will be working a lot with in the coming months (and years) as the economic fall out of this pandemic continues to ripple throughout our industry.
For your information, we have dedicated a small fund to help many of the informal workers we are in contact with to help support them. This goes to the heart and soul of what we believe in as a sustainable tour provider. Not only do we work to sustain you, our travelers, and the beautiful environs of Morocco, but perhaps most importantly, we try our best to provide for the people who make travel so special here in Morocco.
Additionally, we were able to do an AMAZING Ramadan Charity Drive in 2021 for our Guides and Drivers who were unable to work over this last year because of the pandemic. Because of the generosity of our incredible travelers, our drivers and guides each received the equivalent of 3 months of salary!!! Talk about making a real difference in the lives of others! We remain humbled by the incredible spirit shown by our alumni through all of this.
Our COVID 19 Morocco Peace of Mind Policy
For our clients, both future clients and those who have already purchased tours with us, we have adopted the following Peace of Mind policy in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
- Any bookings postponed due to COVID 19 are eligible for full credit throughout 2023 (and likely through 2024, though please contact us to make sure).
Our operation is a large financial risk for us, personally, but we believe in JBT, the travel industry, and Morocco as a destination. We believe we are going to come out of this on the other side. We believe that there is still a lot of good we can do in the world. We want to continue our excellence in going above and beyond people’s expectations, both yours and ours!
COVID 19 in Morocco, Some Final Thoughts
As we have put this information together and continued to update it, one thing has become nakedly apparent: COVID 19 has proven resilient and forced many changes. The only thing we can expect is the unexpected with still more changes to come over the coming months and, likely, years. We strive to be as flexible as yogis with you, our clients, as we navigate these uncertain times! One thing is clear, though, Morocco remains a comfortable, adventurous, and safe destination for travelers.
We all wish the very best of health for you, your family and loved ones and hope you are finding ways to be physically distant, though emotionally engaged throughout all of this.
Journey On!
Lucas and The Team at Journey Beyond Travel
NOTE: This photo taken just a few months before the pandemic and masks were en vogue!!!