Africa’s tourism sector is booming. With a growth rate of 5.6% in 2018, compared with the global average of 3.9%, the continent is home to the second-fasted expanding tourism industry in the world, after the Asia-Pacific region. Representing 8.5% of the continent’s GDP, tourism contributed a total of $194.2bn to African economies in 2018. Multiple governments have recognised the importance…
Interview:Nadia Fettah Alaoui What opportunities are available for foreign investors in Morocco’s tourism sector? NADIA FETTAH ALAOUI: As a major contributor to job creation, foreign currency reserves and economic growth, tourism continues to position itself as a key sector in the kingdom’s economic and social development. Tourist arrivals increased at an average of 8% between 2016 and…
Morocco’s geographical variety, combined with favourable weather and its proximity to key European tourist markets, have made it one of the most attractive and competitive destinations in Africa. The country’s status as a preferred location has been strengthened by its consistently stable political and economic situation relative to the region. Like most critical sectors in the Moroccan…
As policymakers and private stakeholders join forces to chart a new path for the tourism sector, more emphasis is likely to put on the development of niche offerings. Several of these have high-value potential and the ability to attract new segments of international travellers. Niche tourism is the base of the sector’s Vision 2020 plan, which highlights six tourism categories. Ecotourism,…
Morocco’s geographical variety, combined with favourable weather conditions and its proximity to key European tourist markets, have made it one of the most attractive and competitive destinations in Africa. The country’s attractiveness as a tourist hot-spot has been strengthened by its consistently stable political and economic situation relative to the region. Like most critical sectors in the…
Morocco is often described as the gateway to Africa, an apt description given its proximity to Europe and its geographic location at the north-eastern tip of the continent. At its narrowest, the Strait of Gibraltar separates Point Cires in Morocco from Point Marroquí in Spain by 13 km. The country is neighboured by Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south. At home, Morocco has identified
The domestic tourism market has been growing strongly since the beginning of the decade, both in absolute terms as well as in its contribution to the wider industry. Nights spent in tourism accommodation by local residents stood at 7.14m in 2018, up 2% on the previous year’s figures and accounting for 30% of total nights in the kingdom. However, this latter figure was down two percentage…
Morocco is amongst the best-developed tourism markets in Africa, benefitting from its close proximity to Europe, a wide variety of landscapes and attractions, year-round warm weather in parts of the country, and a more stable political and security environment than some of its regional competitors. The years since 2016 have seen healthy rises in tourism arrivals, though over the longer term growth…
Interview:Mohammed Sajid How is the government boosting tourism? MOHAMMED SAJID: In an effort to stimulate Morocco’s tourism sector, the Department of Tourism and its partners have launched a new approach focused on several primary strategic projects. First, there is a push to revive dynamic investment by putting in place an incentivised framework that encourages the promotion and acceleration…
Interview:Laila Mechbal What can be done to attract more international airlines to the country? LAILA MECHBAL: Important efforts are being exerted in order to modernise the Moroccan airline sector, both in terms of service delivery and infrastructure. The new terminal extension projects in Nador and Tangiers will definitely contribute to boosting economic development in the north, while the…
