While we have addressed hundreds of issues concerning visitors to Morocco, very little attention has been paid to internal tourism. Now, according to Sarah Touahri for writing for Magharebia in Rabat, all that is to change and one of the destinations chosen to be featured in April - is Fez.
In a bid to eventually double the number of holidays spent in recognised commercial accommodation from the current level of 1.1 million per year to 2 million by 2010, Morocco plans to promote internal tourism, according to Abbas Azzouzi, chief executive officer of the Moroccan National Tourism Office.
Sociologist Jamal Choufani explains that even though Moroccans have always travelled, the majority stay with relatives or friends to avoid paying for a hotel. He believes Morocco has not yet managed to develop a full range of hotel services or tourist facilities which adequately meet people’s needs in terms of affordability and flexibility.
For that, the tourism office plans to develop products that all Tunisians can afford. Azzouzi says that his department based its plans on a survey by an international agency on the behaviour and expectations of Moroccan holiday-makers. The survey, in which 6,000 people took part, showed that 73% of domestic tourists favoured family accommodation.
Plans are under way to create packages catering to the needs of every segment --campsites, tourist residences, family holiday villages -- as well as integrated tourist zones in various regions of the country.
A theme-based promotion timetable has been drawn up taking school and national holidays into account. At the beginning of this year, the focus will be on the south, in particular Ouarzazate, Zagora, Merzouga and Errachidia. In April, destinations with significant natural potential such as Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Ifrane, Fes and Meknes will be promoted to Moroccans.
The strategy is based primarily on "Kounouz Biladi" (The Treasures of my Country) -- a plan involving the creation of eight different tourist zones in major national tourist destinations and offering competitive prices. Partnership contracts have been signed with three travel agencies to implement the plans and promotional campaigns are planned to take place before the launch of each of the three initiatives.
Read the full article here: Maghrarebia.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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