Tourist numbers of 7.4 million visitors to Morocco in 2006, puts the country well on the way to reaching its goal of ten million by 2010. This is a 13% increase over 2006 showing that the country’s long term strategy is paying off. Visitor numbers are the highest they have been in forty years which translates into revenues from tourism to nearly 59 billion dirhams.
Tourism and Crafts Minister, Mohamed Boussaid said that Morocco’s plan is on track. Looking back from 2001 to now, Morocco has had an increase of 3 million visitors. Boussaid pointed out that Morocco tourism, Morocco tours and Morocco holidays has become a chief source of investments and job creation in Morocco and a driving force for sustainable development. Tourism dirhams contributed 8% of the country’s GNP.
Morocco’s government has a strategy that it believes will allow it to attain its 2010 goal. One aspect is promoting new beach destinations with six resorts already licensed to accept tourists. Besides generating 200,000 new jobs, it will increase bed capacity to 111,000 of which hotels will get 70,000. The first of the new seaside resorts, Saidia, is slated to open in May 2008.
Prime Minister, Abbas El Fassi, made an announcement telling of the commitment to promoting tourism to rural areas and encouraging domestic tourism. He noted that increase of bed space capacity will contribute to the creation of more than 80,000 jobs and bring tourism revenue up to 90 million dirhams. Tourist flats, a new type of accommodation will add to the bed capacity.
Morocco’s government is seeking to achieve equilibrium between the additional Morocco hotel beds and the number of air passengers. It is working to increase the number of flights to Morocco by mainstream airlines. Another strategy is to target new markets through the emergence of new carriers.
Plans are in the works to set up, human resources and training programs so that qualified staff is ready to address the needs of the tourist trade. Ministry of Tourism mentioned it will need to establish the financial resources necessary and get commitments from public and private operators that will be inline with specific targets.
Intentions of the ministry include drawing up a plan for 2010 to 2020. This plan will include a province based approach to tourism management along with national and regional actions plans. The 2020 plan will be based on quality of service rather than quantity.
by Carole Morris
