Headlines for Travel and Tourism News
Ghanaian Citizens No Longer Need Visas to Enter Morocco
Surinamese Ambassador Reaffirms Strong Cultural and Trade Ties with Ghana
Southern Europe Braces for Anti-Overtourism Prote
Ghanaian citizens can now travel to Morocco without needing a visa, following a landmark agreement between the two countries’ foreign ministries.The visa exemption policy took effect on Friday, June 6, 2025, and represents a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations and advancing African integration.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Accra confirmed the decision in an official statement released on Thursday, June 12, 2025. It follows high-level talks in Rabat on June 5 between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, His Excellency Nasser Bourita, and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
“The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco has the honor to inform that following discussions between H.E. Mr. Nasser Bourita… and the Honourable Minister H.E. Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa… it has been decided that with immediate effect, Ghanaian citizens holders of ordinary passports no longer need a Visa to enter Morocco,” the statement read.
Under the new arrangement, Ghanaian travellers with ordinary passports are required to complete an Electronic Travel Authorization to Morocco (ETAM) via the portal: However, holders of Diplomatic, Service, and Special Passports were already exempt from visa requirements and are not required to complete the ETAM process.
In a post on his official X account, Mr Ablakwa celebrated the milestone, stating: “The Moroccan Embassy in Accra confirms it has commenced the No Visa Policy for holders of Ghanaian Ordinary Passports following the recent agreement I initiated.” He encouraged Ghanaians to take full advantage of the opportunity: “You all enjoy your trips to beautiful Morocco. Let’s build a borderless Africa. For God and Country.”
The Embassy has also provided a helpline (0570692450) for further information or assistance.
This development aligns with broader Pan-African efforts to ease mobility across the continent, boost tourism, and promote economic collaboration between Ghana and Morocco.
Surinamese Ambassador to Ghana, Fidelia Graand-Galon, has reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening ties with Ghana in culture, tourism, and trade. Speaking at the Tree Planting Festival in Liati-Wote on June 7, she emphasized the shared ethnic and traditional values between the two nations, noting similarities in customs such as royalty, tribal ethics, and ancestral reverence.
She highlighted cultural parallels, including the pouring of libation and the use of the word ‘agoo,’ as well as linguistic overlaps between Ewe and several of Suriname’s seven ethnic languages.She expressed confidence that these cultural connections could serve as a strong foundation for deeper collaboration between the two countries. Ambassador Graand-Galon also praised the Tree Planting Festival as a symbol of environmental consciousness and community resilience. She pledged Suriname’s continued support for initiatives that promote cultural exchange and sustainable development.
Coordinated demonstrations are planned in cities across Spain (Barcelona, Lisbon) and Italy (Venice, Rome), organized by the SET alliance (Southern Europe Against Overtourism). Activists highlight the negative impacts of mass tourism—rising housing costs, overcrowding, and strain on local infrastructure.
In Barcelona, where 26 million tourists visited in 2024, 31 % of residents view tourism negatively, the highest level recorded. Measures like banning tourist apartments and phasing out short‑term rentals by 2028 are underway, but protesters are urging more drastic action, staging graffiti campaigns, water-pistol skirmishes, and calls to limit tourist access.
This movement underscores a growing backlash—a tipping point where beloved travel destinations are pushing back, advocating for more sustainable and community-conscious tourism models.
