New strategy to protect tourism in Morocco

Minister of Tourism & Crafts, Mohamed Boussaid, has announced a strategy aimed to protect tourism to Morocco from the effects of global economic decline.

Mohamed Boussaid, Minister of Tourism & Crafts

The World Tourism Organisation has forecast that growth in global demand for tourism in 2009 will be 0%, as compared with 2% in 2008. But Morocco's government has a new plan - dubbed CAP 2009 - that is aimed at retaining current market share and even conquering new markets. Visitors for 2008 are expected to rise by 7% to 7.9 million, and the King has said that the objective is 10 million tourists by 2010.

CAP 2009 was approved at a cabinet meeting held on 17 December and publicly announced the following week. It encapsulates a range of new strategic measures to counter the impact of the global financial situation. The prime tourism areas of Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca and Agadir are priority regions and will be promoted to potential visitors from Europe, the Gulf and Russia. It's also seen as important to develop domestic tourism and encourage tourist loyalty. Boosting Morocco's image will help to maintain large-scale investment projects in tourism.

Boussaid believes that Morocco has a number of advantages as a tourist destination. "Morocco is a nearby destination for European travellers in particular and offers a high-quality product, attractive prices and short vacation packages," he said.

CAP 2009 will be funded by a budget increase of 10% (50 million dirhams) in the 2009 budget. The president of the Casablanca Regional Tourism Council, Said Mouhid, explains that this budget will make it possible to work towards specific targets, in particular entry to new markets.

The chief executive of the Moroccan National Tourism Office, Abdelhamid Addou, says that Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and the National Airports Authority (ONDA) must play their part in implementing CAP 2009. "The ONDA has announced adjustments to airport taxes on chartered flights. We have also always counted on the support of RAM with specific actions in certain outbound markets," he said.

All of the planned measures were drafted in agreement with the Ministry of Tourism and Crafts, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), National Tourism Federation (FNT), Tourism Monitoring Centre and Regional Tourism Centres to respond to the possible consequences of the global situation.




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