Morocco posts highest tourist numbers in four decades for 2007
2008-02-04
The Moroccan government reports visitor numbers hit a record high of 7.4 million last year, putting the country well on its way toward the goal of 10 million tourists by 2010. The comprehensive strategy involves training tourism sector employees, increasing accommodations and optimising air travel.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 04/02/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Morocco's tourism and crafts minister Mohamed Boussaid said on January 29th that a record number of tourists visited in 2007. "Tourism has become the chief source of investment and job creation in the Kingdom," he said. |
Record-breaking numbers announced by the Moroccan government on Wednesday (January 30th) indicate that the country's long-term tourism strategy is paying off. Visitor numbers hit 7.4 million in 2007, a 13% increase since 2006 and the highest tourist tally in four decades. Provisional statistics also showed a jump of 12% in tourism revenues to 59 billion dirhams.
Morocco's plan to welcome 10 million tourists in 2010 is on track, tourism and crafts minister Mohamed Boussaid said at a January 29th press briefing. Since 2001, Morocco has seen an increase in visitor numbers of 3 million, with a further rise of 2.5 million forecast within the next 3 years.
"Tourism has become the chief source of investments and job creation in the Kingdom, as well as a driving force for sustainable development, contributing 8% of the country's gross domestic product," Boussaid said.
The government believes it can deliver on its 2010 goal. One prong of the strategy is the promotion of new beach destinations, with six seaside resorts already licensed by the tourism ministry. These will increase capacity by 111,000 beds, of which 70,000 will be located in hotels. The initiative will also generate 200,000 jobs. The first of these new resorts, Saidia, is expected to open in May 2008.
In a government announcement, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi spoke of a commitment to tourism in rural areas and encouraging domestic tourism. He noted that an increase in bed space capacity from 150,000 to 265,000 will contribute to the creation of over 80,000 direct jobs and swell tourism revenue from the current level of 60 billion dirhams to 90 billion. A new type of accommodation – tourist flats – will also be promoted to boost capacity.
With regard to air travel, the government is seeking to achieve equilibrium between the additional hotel capacity and the number of air passengers, to increase the number of flights provided by mainstream operators and to back up the strategy of targeting new markets through the emergence of new carriers.
Plans are also afoot to set up a human resources and training contract programme to address the tourism sector’s need for qualified staff. The Ministry of Tourism says it will need to establish the financial resources that will be necessary and bring commitments by public and private-sector operators into line with specific targets.
The ministry also intends to draw up a plan for 2010 to 2020 which will adopt a province-based approach to tourism management along with national and regional action plans.
The tourism minister says that the 2020 plan will be based primarily on quality rather than quantity of services.
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azizofski Posted 2008-02-05
We need to find a policy to renovate smaller, independently-owned hotels, like the one where were forced to spend the night in Meknes. The hotel was located on Boulevard Med V. in a lamentable state. We need to find the means to give credit to restore and renovate real estate that much to desire.
azizofski Posted 2008-02-05
How can a 7.4 billions be hosted in that dear country. It must have been a mistake in editing which should be corrected. Thank you.
HAFIDA Posted 2008-02-06
Moroccan Minister of Tourism Mohamed Boussaid said, “Tourism is now the main source of investment and job creation in the kingdom.” To that extent, the state refuses to speak of the more sombre face of this tourism, which it hides with so-called “record” numbers at 7.4 million tourists in 2007. The other reality is that Morocco is quickly falling into step with Thailand and the Philippines in terms of sex tourism. These tourists are coming here not for the beauty of the countryside but to take advantage of the poverty and ignorance some of our people, abusing our children! And, all this is going on under the eyes of our authorities, who fear that speaking of this would be detrimental to the tourism money-maker and harm the reputation of the country! The state pretends to be blind! The whole world knows Morocco’s reputation. It is the only Muslim country in the world to tolerate such public debauchery. The state no longer need worry about its world image, it has been soiled for a long time now! We need to open our eyes! Because of strictly looking for gains in the tourism market, you have neglected other sectors such as agriculture, fishing, the textile industry, craftworks and so on. Do not stamp out our values, morals and Islam, to which the majority of Moroccans are still committed! Save our children from paedophilia! Save our women from prostitution! Help the organisations that are capable of make the aforesaid happen! Put in place a legal system with admonitory punishments for certain acts of debauchery! Create a police force specialised in this field! (And, doing this will create jobs.) We do not want an investment source that really does more harm than does good for Morocco. YES to tourism! But, NO, NO to sex tourism!
MovingAhead Posted 2008-04-22
Dear Hafida, while I agree with you that sex tourism is a BIG problem in Morocco and I share the same concerns with you, not all of 7.4M tourists are sex crazed middle aged men looking for a chance to score. Every time the country does something to try to improve the living standards of its people via tourism it is met with this sex industry criticism/people blowing themselves up because " WE ARE LOSING OUR VALUES" let's for a moment take a chance and applaud the great efforts made by the people of Morocco to get some steam behind moving the country forward. And please please please leave tourists alone. We should be lucky to have them visit our beloved country and we ought to treat them with respect(the good ones I mean), honor,and a welcoming smile. They are a major part of creating jobs as we have no oil or gaz reserves like other Arab nations with a similar percentage of below average uneducated crowd.
anzar marouane Posted 2008-05-03
dear hafida,i know that you are speaking because you are jealous about your country .but,the big problem what we have to face first is illteracy.thi is the first target to face every problem.
wassim Posted 2008-06-15
Morocco is a fast growing country politically and financially, the living standards are some of the highest in the Arab and African world. The fact that you would compare us to the Philippines and Thailand is disgusting. We Moroccans have dignity and self respect which we find in our Islamic faith. Moroccans are fairly conservative so the thought of an emerging SEX market is ridiculous. It sounds to me like you need to wake up! Morocco has broken away from the past. so look out Because Morocco is bringing forth a new future for its people and the international community.
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