Morocco 20:20 Vision for Sustainable Tourism…or is it

Agadir – mass tourism

Ambitious plan combines doubling tourism, theme resorts and becoming Mediterranean best at sustainable tourism

The new Morocco Vision 2020 follows after Vision 2010 and has at its heart the doubling of tourism numbers and a big increase in delivery standards.

The plan aims to get Morocco into the world’s top 20 destinations: To become a model of tourism that combines sustainable growth and responsible custody of the environment with respect to its authentic social and cultural life: To double the industry’s size by creating 200,000 new beds and to triple the number of domestic travelers.

The plan has identified 8 destinations to concentrate on – Northern Cape, Central Atlantic, Marrakech and the Atlantic, Souss-Sahara and Atlantic,  the Great Southern Atlantic coast, Mediterranean Morocco, Central Morocco and Atlas and the valleys.

The plan is to:

• Enhance the range of cultural products
• Continue to market the seaside resorts aggressively
• Create a range of Nature tourism products
• Set up themed corridors
• Set up a potent range of events and guides

And the projects are:

THE AZUR 2020 PROGRAMME
To provide an internationally competitive range of seaside resorts for Morocco
Strengthen Morocco/s seaside resorts on both Atlantic and Mediterranean shores by completing the Azur projects and developing new products in the South (Souss and Sahara)

GREEN/ECO / SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Developing an additional green/nature range by means of innovative best-in-class sustainable development products (eco-lodges, desert resort, glampings…)

PATRIMONY AND HERITAGE PROGRAMME:
Enhancing the range of cultural experiences on offer by making the most of Morocco’s tangible and intangible heritage: Developing specific accommodation, reconversion of historical monuments, building important museums, enhancing and adding value to traditional festivals

EVENTS, SPORT & LEISURE PROGRAMME:
Developing a range of international-class cultural and leisure events to enhance the attractiveness of our tourist destinations based on a full programme of events: Leisure cities, thematic parks and resorts.

BILADI PROGRAMME:
Offering a product tailored to the habits and manner of travelling of moroccans

Kasbah du Toubkal – best of the best

On recent visits it was pretty clear that Morocco has been really successful in high end/low numbers tourism and the wellness industry. Moreover the cultural events are quite superb.

See VIDEO
And stories:

www.travelmole.com/stories/1145496.php
www.travelmole.com/stories/1144357.php
www.travelmole.com/stories/1144356.php

However its history of development of mass tourism destinations (originally with World Bank funding in the 1970’s) and the untried ecotourism initiatives will certainly lead to questions.

Valere Tjolle

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite latest information at www.travelmole.com/stories/1146007.php