Rabat – The French travel magazine, Retraite sans Frontières (Retirement without Borders) has announced its “annual list of retirement paradise.” Morocco ranked fourth on the list.
For nine years, Retraite sans Frontières has generated a list of the 10 best destinations for French retirees, based on 12 criteria that matter to retirees planning to retire abroad as well as the opinion of French retirees living abroad.
The selection criteria include cost of living, real estate value, climate, quality of medical care, gastronomy, security, and infrastructure, among other factors.
Morocco ranked fourth(out of 10) in this year’s classification. The “geographical proximity, low cost of living, widely spoken French language, legendary hospitality of Moroccans, very advantageous taxation, Mediterranean climate with mild winters, [and] rich cultural and architectural heritage” are the main factors qualifying Morocco, explained the magazine.
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In 2019, France 2 channel reported that French retirees prefer to spend their winters in Morocco then return back to their home country in the spring.
“Almost 30,000 drive down each year in caravans to the Moroccan sun, as soon as the cold falls on the Hexagon. And like swallows, these pensioners return to the nest when it is better in France,” commented France 2.
Additionally, Morocco is a favorite destination for European tourists regardless of their age. Yet the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic halted tourism activities in the country, leading some tourists and even Moroccans living abroad to change travel itineraries to other low-cost destinations, such as Spain and Greece.
With airspace reopening on February 7, the North African paradise hopes for a gradual return to normal. To note, France moved Morocco to its green list earlier this month.
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As for the top three destinations, they were dominated by Southern European countries, namely Greece, Portugal, and Spain, in that respective order. As of 2022, the Mediterranean blue and white paradise, Greece, is the favorite retirement destination for French retirees.
Following Morocco, the highest-ranked non-European country on the list, there are Thailand, Mauritius, Senegal, Tunisia, Bali, and the Dominican Republic.
These countries are all known for their beautiful natural landscapes, mild climate, rich cultural heritage, and low cost of living– compared to France.
