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Smiling faces, long-awaited hugs and sighs of relief, Moroccan expats can finally return to their beloved country of origin. Moroccans can once again eat their family’s couscous, feel the Moroccan sun on their face and reconnect with family and friends.
Moroccans from all over the world welcomed the news and took to social media to express their excitement to be back home, in time for the summer season.
Morocco’s diverse landscape offers plenty of options for Morocco and foreigners to satisfy their travelling bug, after over a year of travel restrictions. With Moroccan ports and airports again bustling with activity, hopes are high for this year’s Operation Marhaba 2021.
Celebrated Arrivals
Videos of the first wave of Moroccans arriving back home went viral on social media. Met with customary milk and dates at the international airport of Fez, greeted by airport personnel on a red carpet, their joy was apparent and solidified Morocco’s strong ties to its diaspora across the globe.
A Facebook post that made the rounds on the platform painted a picture of the welcome expats received upon landing. “Members of the Moroccan community receive the royal initiative with great joy, as King Mohammed VI gave his orders to open the borders of the Kingdom to members of the Moroccan community residing abroad last week, ” the post described.
Moroccans within the nation are just as excited to see their loved ones back home. A facebook user shared his thoughts that also gained much traction online, writing “a great joy among the families of the Moroccan community who have returned today through the airports and ports, some of whom have not seen their family for more than three years. Welcome home, we are proud to have you back.”
One Twitter user expressed his elation to be back saying “I didn’t need a global pandemic to remind me of how much i miss being in Morocco, but now i will never take being able to come back to this heavenly country for granted.”
Grand Governmental Action
Welcoming back the diaspora has been a national project, after a difficult year for Morocco’s famous artisanal craft workers and millions of employees and entrepreneurs linked with the tourism and hospitality sector. From the country’s airports to the Royal Palace, all have worked to ensure expats return to Morocco efficiently and happily.
The measures in place touched on everything from transportation, to hotels and accommodation, as well as an elaborate PR campaign from the ONMT (National Moroccan Office for Tourism) in the form of short films showcasing the beauty of Morocco and the diverse experiences it offers its visitors.
Speaking at the weekly meeting of the Government Council this Thursday, Morocco’s head of government Saadeddine El Othmani said that the efforts directed towards the sector “will give this summer a special flavor and allow MREs to make up for what they have lost last year.“
El Othmani also instructed the Embassies and Consulates General of Morocco abroad to facilitate all consular and administrative procedures required by fellow Moroccans and foreigners wishing to visit Morocco, and to respond efficiently to their requests and expectations.
With all of Morocco excited to welcome back its diaspora, hopes are high for a summer of recovery and rehabilitation for the economy and for thousands of Moroccans who will once again be able to be welcomed in their country of origin.
