Number Two To Morocco

Tour operating company Artis Space plan to launch a new charter to Agadir (Morocco) starting from August 20th with the flight being operated once in three days by Vladivostok Avia TU-204. However, the company’s representatives denied commenting on their initiative, having pointed out sales of both tours and tickets have been already started. Experts say, Artis Space realizes a 9-day tour to the country with accommodation in a 5* hotel for around 1,600 $ that meets the conjuncture of the market. Nevertheless, tour operators that specialize in the Moroccan market doubt the success of the initiative. Travel market players point out the decrease of tourist flow to the destination comparing to the last year, when the only Aeroflot charter was fully booked. In 2006 the flight by IL – 86 that was launched on April 30th is not 100% booked with sales depth not being good. ‘Therefore, I doubt the charter will need to be operated owing lack of demand. It is a fantastic project that absolutely ignores the market reality’, stated Georgy Leontiev, Marketing Director of Collage-service. Olga Mineeva, The Head of Agent Chain Development Department of Space Travel, agreed: ‘to organize this flight Artis Space will need to sell around 450 tickets per week, that is not real even considering the high season in August’. Furthermore, Anna Spirina, Tourism Director of Flamingo Travel, commented: ‘launching the flight, the company should have guaranteed accommodation in Morocco, while at the moment there is a shortage of hotel rooms in the country’. Travel market experts also point out that only tour operators with many years of experience can work successfully on such exotic destinations as Morocco. Therefore, Artis Space that has sent tourists to the country for the second year might have difficulties with organizing tours. Attraction of tourists by dumping prices is also doubtful. Georgy Leontiev said: ‘it is important that the project does not have negative results thus affecting the reputation of the Moroccan destination’.