Number of tourists to Morocco increases 10% to 4.3m
2007-09-21
Approximately 4.3 million tourists visited Morocco in the first seven months of 2007, an increase of 10% year-on-year with over 1m tourists visiting the country in July alone, Morocco's Department of Tourism announced Thursday (September 20th). The largest number of foreign visitors came from France (1.7 million), followed by visitors from Spain (795,000), Belgium (285,000), the U.K. (261,000), the Netherlands (211,000), Germany (182,000), and Italy (164,000). The Department of Tourism also said that the total number of local tourist nights in classified hotels increased by 7% year-on-year for the same period, reaching 10m. Marrakech remains the most attractive tourist destination with a growth rate of 11% year-on-year, followed by Casablanca (10%), Tangier (9%), Fez (7%), Rabat (6%), and Agadir (3%).
Email to a friend
Print version
سعيد مازغ Posted 2007-09-21
Sometimes we focus our interests on the numbers of tourists who visited Morocco in a given period of time. But the persisting problem is the category of these tourists as we find that the majority chose their destination on the incentives offered by the host country, and with a simple verification we find that revenues or incomes of the operation are very low. As most of these tourists are satisfied with the meals offered in the hotels which mostly offer two main meals: a breakfast and lunch. or a breakfast and dinner. So most of them keep aside some of the breakfast meal to lunch until dinner. Thus he spends his holiday at a low price less than what a citizen with an average income spends. There should be an interest in the quality and not the quantity, because a more or less increase of 10% is not significant as long as the host country does not take into consideration some profitable activities, the diversity of products which attract the visitor to but and boost the commercial activity namely the handicraft which is stagnant.
We welcome your comments on Magharebia's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across the Maghreb. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While Magharebia.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. Magharebia.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
Magharebia's Comments Policy