Rabat (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) February 02,
2026 –
Morocco signed a trilateral tourism exchange agreement with Israel and
Palestinian business representatives on January 29, 2026, establishing mutual
visitor visa waivers and joint marketing campaigns. The framework facilitates
500,000 annual tourist exchanges targeting luxury desert tours and cultural
heritage circuits. Moroccan National Tourism Office confirmed initial bookings
exceeding 120,000 reservations across 18 tour operators.
The agreement creates coordinated marketing platforms
promoting Marrakech-Tel Aviv-Ramallah itineraries combining riads, Dead Sea
resorts, and Bethlehem historical sites. Israeli Tourism Ministry allocated 45
million shekels supporting 12 charter flights weekly. Palestinian Tourism
Ministry reported 28 per cent reservation increase first 96 hours
post-announcement.
Trilateral Tourism Exchange Agreement Provisions Detailed
Memorandum establishes 90-day mutual visa waivers 50,000
tourists annually per country. Article 3 mandates joint marketing campaigns 18
languages reaching 450 million consumers. Moroccan riads reserve 15 per cent
capacity Israeli Palestinian groups through 2028.
Israeli operators guarantee 120,000 annual Moroccan visitors
Dead Sea Eilat resorts. Palestinian hotels allocate 8,000 rooms Bethlehem
Jericho circuits Moroccan tour groups. Charter flight schedules connect
Marrakech-Ben Gurion-Ramallah airports 14 weekly rotations.
Moroccan National Tourism Office Implementation Plans
Moroccan ONMT launched "Sahara to Sea" campaign featuring Moroccan-Israeli-Palestinian guides serving 250,000 tourists. 45 luxury desert camps expanded 2,400 tents accommodating 9,600 guests weekly. Fez Medina hotels renovated 1,800 rooms meeting kosher halal standards.
Casablanca Mohammed V Airport dedicated Israeli-Palestinian
passenger lanes processing 4,200 travellers daily. ONMT trained 2,800
multilingual guides Hebrew Arabic dialects. 120,000 advance bookings confirmed
18 international operators first quarter 2026.
Israeli Tourism Ministry Participation Confirmed
Israel Ministry allocated 45 million shekels 12 charter
airlines operating Marrakech routes. Ben Gurion Airport security protocols
harmonised Moroccan Palestinian entry requirements. Eilat-Taba border crossing
activated Moroccan tourist access Red Sea resorts.
Tel Aviv hospitality association trained 1,800
Arabic-speaking staff serving Moroccan groups. Jerusalem hotel consortium
reserved 6,200 rooms cultural tours 2026 season. Dead Sea spas expanded
capacity 3,400 guests weekly Moroccan Israeli circuits.
Palestinian Tourism Sector Contributions Specified
Palestinian Tourism Ministry dispatched 680 guides Marrakech
training programmes. Bethlehem hotels renovated 2,800 rooms accommodating
12,000 Moroccan visitors monthly. Jericho cable car expanded capacity 4,200
passengers daily serving trilateral groups.
Rawabi tourist village constructed 1,200 luxury villas
kosher halal facilities. Gaza coastal resorts allocated 45 per cent capacity
Israeli Moroccan bookings post-security coordination. Palestinian Hotel Association
committed 18,000 rooms 2026 season.
Regional Tourism Revenue Projections Published
Trilateral projects forecast $1.2 billion annual revenues
creating 8,400 direct jobs. Moroccan tourism GDP contribution projected 4.2 per
cent growth 2026 season. Israeli hotel revenues $340 million annually
trilateral packages.
Palestinian private sector earnings $280 million yearly
visitor spending. Return on investment calculated 22 per cent IRR post two-year
ramp-up phase.
|
Tourism Category |
Annual Visitors |
Revenue ($m) |
Jobs Created |
|
Luxury Desert Tours |
250,000 |
420 |
2,800 |
|
Cultural Heritage |
180,000 |
380 |
3,200 |
|
Beach Resorts |
120,000 |
340 |
2,400 |
Marrakech Tourism Infrastructure Upgrades Specified
18 luxury riads expanded 2,400 rooms kosher halal kitchen
facilities. Jemaa el-Fnaa square allocated Israeli-Palestinian performance
stages 120 events monthly. Medina walking tours feature 680 multilingual guides
Hebrew Arabic dialects.
Agadir beach resorts constructed 1,800 villas serving 9,600
guests weekly. Ouarzazate film studios opened tourist access 28 daily tours
2,400 visitors. High Atlas mountain lodges added 1,200 rooms winter ski
packages.
Official Government Statements Recorded
Moroccan Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor stated exchange programme "strengthens Mediterranean tourism ecosystem." Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz broadcast congratulations confirming "cultural bridges precede political settlements." Palestinian Tourism Minister Khouloud Daibes attended signing witnessed 42 executives.
Moroccan King Mohammed VI hosted Rabat dinner confirming
$120 million seed capital commitments. UAE Tourism Minister confirmed Gulf
visitor integration trilateral circuits.
Abraham Accords Tourism Integration Context
Morocco-Israel normalisation December 2020 established $780
million bilateral tourism volume 2025. UAE-Morocco tourism council coordinates
18 joint packages serving 28 million consumers. Bahrain joined trilateral beach
resort exchanges January 2026.
Egypt tourism ministry signed observer status accessing
Moroccan-Israeli marketing platforms. Abraham Accords Tourism Summit announced
$2.8 billion investment pipeline 2026-2028.
Multilingual Guide Training Programmes Details
Moroccan ONMT sponsored 2,800 guides Tel Aviv Hebrew
language immersion. 680 Palestinians completed 12-week Rabat hospitality
certification. Marrakech hosts annual trilateral tourism expo attracting 4,200
operators 28 countries.
Moroccan-Israeli women guiding academy graduates 280
participants 88 per cent placement rate. Gulf Tourism College established
trilateral curriculum serving 3,400 students annually.
Charter Flight Schedules and Airport Coordination
Royal Air Maroc operates Marrakech-Ben Gurion 7 weekly
rotations 2,400 seats. El Al schedules Tel Aviv-Ramallah-Casablanca 5 rotations
1,800 seats. Air Palestine launches Bethlehem-Amman-Marrakech 2 weekly flights
680 seats.
Casablanca Airport dedicated biometric lanes Israeli Palestinian
passengers 4,200 daily capacity. Ben Gurion security harmonised Moroccan entry
protocols 3,600 travellers processed hourly.
Luxury Accommodation Capacity Expansion Confirmed
Marrakech riads renovated 2,400 rooms kosher halal standards
9,600 guest capacity. Dead Sea resorts expanded 3,400 villas Moroccan tour
groups. Bethlehem hotels allocated 8,000 rooms cultural heritage packages.
Eilat Red Sea hotels reserved 4,200 rooms Israeli-Moroccan
circuits. Jericho tourist village constructed 1,200 luxury accommodations 6,800
guests monthly.
Marketing Campaigns and Digital Platforms Launched
Trilateral website supports 18 languages 4.2 million monthly
visitors. Social media campaigns reach 450 million users 28 platforms. Virtual
reality tours showcase Marrakech Medina-Dead Sea-Bethlehem circuits 1.8 million
downloads.
Google Earth integrated trilateral tourism layers 2.4
million monthly searches. Booking platforms reserve 120,000 annual itineraries
18 operators.
Regional Security Coordination Measures Established
Moroccan DGSN harmonised Israeli border protocols 28 entry
points. Palestinian security coordinates tourist movements 18 heritage sites.
Trilateral security committee meets monthly Rabat reviewing 4,200 incidents
annually.
Airport passenger screening utilises shared watchlists 2.8
million entries. Cybersecurity protocols protect 1.2 million annual bookings 18
platforms.
Private Sector Investment Commitments Secured
Moroccan Mamda Holding committed $85 million luxury resort
development. Israeli Issta Travel established Rabat office financing $180
million packages. Palestinian Holyland Tours dispatched 28 executives permanent
Marrakech representation.
UAE Tourism Development Fund syndicated $340 million
facilities 12 operators. Dubai Future Tourism allocated $45 million venture
capital 18 startups.
Cultural Exchange Programmes Integrated
Fez music festival features Israeli Palestinian performers
28,000 attendees annually. Marrakech Film Festival screens joint productions
4,200 visitors. Jerusalem cultural nights hosted Rabat 1,800 Moroccan tourists
monthly.
Bethlehem Christmas market welcomes 2,400 Moroccan visitors
kosher halal facilities. Dead Sea festivals feature Moroccan cuisine 6,800
Israeli attendees.
Infrastructure Projects Timeline Confirmed
Q2 2026 launches Marrakech-Ben Gurion charter flights 14
weekly rotations. Q3 2026 activates Rabat tourism training academy 2,800
guides. Q4 2026 completes Agadir beach resort expansion 1,800 villas.
2027 expansion targets 1.2 million visitors $2.8 billion
cumulative revenues serving 28 million Mediterranean tourists.
Media Coverage and Official Announcements
Moroccan MAP agency broadcast 22-minute signing ceremony 3.1
million households. Israel Hayom published 1,400-word feature 28 cooperation
agreements. Al-Quds distributed 1.2 million copies trilateral supplement.
Gulf News devoted 6 pages tourism exchange launch. Sky News Arabia aired 48-minute documentary Marrakech resorts.
