We are bound by decades of friendship and I am convinced that we will continue to build good relations
Despite the distance between the two countries, Serbia and Morocco have maintained exclusively friendly bilateral relations for many years. The best indicator of this is the willingness of both parties to improve this cooperation at all levels, including at the level of tourism and youth policy. In the conversation with the Minister of Tourism and Youth, Husein Memić, we talked about the results of this cooperation, how it can be improved, but also about the exchange of information and good practices between the two countries.
Two years ago, the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Morocco was marked. What would you highlight as the most important results of good bilateral relations between these two countries?
Serbia and Morocco are bound by decades of friendship, and I am convinced that we will continue to build good relations in the future as there is a strong political will for cooperation in both countries. However, in the coming period, we must devote ourselves more to the improvement of economic ties, which lag behind the good political relations between the two countries. Serbia is very interested in cooperation with Morocco in agriculture, trade, tourism, the sector of renewable resources and other sectors of mutual interest.
How can cooperation between Serbia and Morocco in the field of tourism be improved?
Tourist traffic between Serbia and Morocco is at a very low level because our official statistics do not record the arrival of Moroccan tourists. At the same time, estimates are that on an annual level, around two thousand citizens of Serbia visit Morocco. The biggest problem is that there is no direct flight between the two countries. In addition, bearing in mind that citizens of Morocco need a visa to enter Serbia, as well as citizens of Serbia to Morocco, it is necessary to consider the possibilities of visa liberalization. In 2023, Serbia achieved a 20 percent increase in foreign guest arrivals, and for the first time the number of foreign tourists exceeded 2 million. Guests from abroad mostly visit Belgrade, but increasingly also spa and mountain centers, whose tourist offer has been significantly improved in recent years. I am sure that Serbia has something to offer tourists from Morocco, and I hope that we will succeed in making positive steps in that direction.
Citizens of Serbia love exotic destinations, and Morocco is exactly one such destination. A country with beautiful beaches and cities where different cultures intertwine, with very friendly hosts
Is work being done to promote the strengthening and development of ties between the young people of these two countries?
It is necessary for young people from Morocco and Serbia to connect as much as possible in order to get to know the culture and tradition better and to exchange experiences. That’s why I invite representatives of youth and competent authorities from Morocco to come to Serbia to develop ideas together and create projects that will influence the improvement of intercultural cooperation.
Is there an exchange of information on youth issues, as well as examples of good practice in planning and implementing projects aimed at young people?
It is extremely important that the representatives of both countries exchange experiences in creating mechanisms for the active participation of young people in society, primarily at the local level. Serbia has extremely well-developed mechanisms of youth work, youth offices at the local level and cooperation with youth associations, associations, the economic sector and the academic community to create better conditions for the employability of young people and for their social and economic independence. The construction of four youth centers is underway, the largest of which will be in Novi Pazar, and I will use the opportunity to invite the delegation from Morocco to visit this center during their visit to Serbia.
What would you say to the citizens of Serbia – why should they visit Morocco?
Citizens of Serbia love exotic destinations, and Morocco is exactly one such destination. A country with beautiful beaches, cities where different cultures intertwine, with very friendly hosts, and where local markets with a very interesting and rich offer are an indispensable part of the visit. If you ask me personally, I would love to go to one of the hottest football derbies in the world, between Vidal Casablanca and Raja Casablanca, where the fans of both teams really create a great atmosphere.
I invite representatives of young people and competent authorities from Morocco to come to Serbia to jointly develop ideas and create projects that will influence the improvement of intercultural cooperation
In the past, you mentioned that the introduction of a direct airline line between Serbia and Morocco is the main prerequisite for a significant increase in tourist traffic. Can citizens expect that it will be realized soon?
The national airline Air Serbia is expanding its network to a large number of destinations, which enabled us to quickly recover tourist traffic after the pandemic, but also to seriously plan the development of tourism and record an upward trend in the arrival of foreign guests. I sincerely hope that, as soon as the conditions are met, the establishment of a direct line with Morocco will follow, which is in the common interest of both countries.
