Contribute
Home
The BBC broadcasted on Sunday a documentary highlighting Morocco’s tourism promotion efforts.
“Since the global financial crisis investors have been more difficult to find, so the government is putting its own money into many projects to help the tourism industry continue to grow,” the BBC noted.
Nearly 10 million people visited Morocco last year, compared to 4 million in 2004, the BBC underscored, adding that the government plans to reach 20 million visitors by 2020. The documentary also noted that the tourism sector is now the second biggest contributor to GDP.
On the impact of the financial crisis on the tourism sector in Morocco, Amin Alami, CEO of the Essaouira Mogador coastal resort development company, spoke to the BBC about the Mogador project which is running a couple of years behind schedule. “When we started in 2006, we never had any problems getting finance, especially for the construction of the first hotel. Since the international financial crisis, it has become more difficult to access bank finance and private finance. But this project like some others has benefited from government help.”
Deputy Director of the Moroccan tourism promotion agency, Nadia Bourry underscored the government’s investments in the tourism sector will encourage foreign investors.
For his part, Economy Professor Fouad Amor told the BBC that Morocco should not only focus on “high-end tourism” which requires heavy investments. Instead, he considered that there are several sectors that are related to tourism promotion and do not require colossal investments, referring in this respect to cultural and rural tourism. (MAP)
“Since the global financial crisis investors have been more difficult to find, so the government is putting its own money into many projects to help the tourism industry continue to grow,” the BBC noted.
Nearly 10 million people visited Morocco last year, compared to 4 million in 2004, the BBC underscored, adding that the government plans to reach 20 million visitors by 2020. The documentary also noted that the tourism sector is now the second biggest contributor to GDP.
On the impact of the financial crisis on the tourism sector in Morocco, Amin Alami, CEO of the Essaouira Mogador coastal resort development company, spoke to the BBC about the Mogador project which is running a couple of years behind schedule. “When we started in 2006, we never had any problems getting finance, especially for the construction of the first hotel. Since the international financial crisis, it has become more difficult to access bank finance and private finance. But this project like some others has benefited from government help.”
Deputy Director of the Moroccan tourism promotion agency, Nadia Bourry underscored the government’s investments in the tourism sector will encourage foreign investors.
For his part, Economy Professor Fouad Amor told the BBC that Morocco should not only focus on “high-end tourism” which requires heavy investments. Instead, he considered that there are several sectors that are related to tourism promotion and do not require colossal investments, referring in this respect to cultural and rural tourism. (MAP)
Share
Czech Republic eager to boost tourism cooperation with Morocco, official
