Ecotourism: a niche yet to be developed in Morocco

25/07/2006

Morocco's geography gives it great potential for ecotourism, a capability still largely untapped. But as the market gradually grows, some people are concerned about the environmental impact of visiting natural destinations.

[File] A village in the Marrakech El Haouz region

With a diverse natural beauty, including the year-round snow-capped Atlas Mountains, hot springs, lakes, forests, the Sahara Desert, and the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, Morocco should be a natural destination for ecotourists. Yet, Morocco's potential for ecotourism is still largely untapped.

"There's tremendous potential for ecotourism in Morocco," Jane Bayley, director of Naturally Morocco, a Wales-based eco-tourism travel company, told Magharebia. "There is a lot of geographic diversity with a rich marine ecosystem and Morocco is a major route for migratory birds," she added.

Morocco receives over 6 million visitors per year, but Bayley says the number of eco-tourists is difficult to determine because the definition of the term is broad. However, she believes ecotourism is on the rise. About ten years ago, she would bring 50 visitors to Morocco per year and now Naturally Morocco sends over 1,500 people annually.

But Bayley points out that ecotourism is still a very small market.

According to a 2003 study carried out by the UN Development Programme for the Moroccan government, ecotourism is still in the embryonic stage. The report notes a strong demand for ecotourism in Morocco from both locals and foreigners, with the country having a lot to offer in terms of natural resources. But the reports points to a lack of co-ordination.

Abdelatif Abouricha, a spokesman for the Marrakech Regional Tourism Council, told Magharebia that despite Morocco's impressive natural potential, ecotourism is still underdeveloped. But because of returning visitors, he seemed to think there is potential for the industry.

"Our figures for the Marrakech El Haouz region show that many tourists return several times a year to revisit locations which offer a sublime natural setting. For us, this represents a real success," he said

Abouricha predicts tourists' interest in ecotourism in Morocco will dictate the future of tourism as a whole in the country.

Enhancing and co-ordinating the supply infrastructure to prepare it for the ecotourism market is essential, Abouricha said. He pointed out the necessity of building transportation links and tourist accommodation in rural areas, which he says is proving a serious obstacle to ecotourism development.

Other challenges include constructing comfortable tourist accommodations that complement the natural landscape and increasing signposting for tourists in the countryside.

Abouricha says he thinks the Moroccan government should do more to promote ecotourism to foreign visitors.

The Moroccan government's "Vision 2010" plan, which aims to increase the number of visitors to 10 million in the next four years, includes the growth of discount airlines. The strategy includes the development of "Plan d'Azur", six resorts to be built along Morocco's coast by 2010.

Bayley believes in using traditional building materials that blend well with the environment, do not damage the environment in their production and provide a comfortable living environment. However, she indicates many buildings at new resorts are made of concrete, which makes them hotter in the summer and colder in the winter, requiring a lot of resources to keep them comfortable.

But in some parts of Morocco, the damage is already taking place.

Abouricha stresses the importance of paying attention to projects that are already harming the environment. His examples include the large number of unauthorised campsites at Mount Toubkal and Sous Massa National Park, the extensive building development at the Palm Grove of Marrakech, a permanent spring being used to dispose of sewage at Ain Ben Adel, and unsightly buildings spoiling the landscape in the Dadès Valley.

"If nothing is done to protect the environment, ecotourism will implode on itself", Abouricha warns.

"Ecotourism has to be carefully planned by figuring out the number of visitors an area can reasonably handle," Eddie Bergman, director of the New York-based Africa Travel Association, told Magharebia. He added, "When developing a destination, planning should always involve the government, investors and particularly the local community."

Hassan Benmehdi in Casablanca contributed to this report.