Tourism in Morocco
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Morocco has a well developed and strong tourist industry.
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[edit] Tourist numbers
Morocco has been one of the most politically stable countries in North Africa, which has allowed tourism to develop. The government created a Ministry of Tourism in 1985.[1]
In the second half of the 1980s and the early 1990s, between 1 and 1.5 million Europeans visited Morocco. Most of these visitors were French or Spanish, with about 100,000 each from Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Tourists mostly visited large beach resorts along the Atlantic coast, particularly Agadir. About 20,000 people from Saudi Arabia visited, some of whom bought holiday homes. Receipts from tourism fell by 16.5% in 1990, the year of the Gulf War.[2] In 1994, Morocco closed its border with Algeria after an attack on a hotel in Marrakech. This caused the number of Algerian visitors to fall considerably; 70,000 visitors in 1994 and 13,000 in 1995, compared to 1.66 million in 1992 and 1.28 million in 1993.[3]
Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Morocco, after phosphates.[1] The country has more than 3.8 million annual visitors. Many of these visitors are Moroccans living abroad. Most of the visitors to Morocco continue to be European, with French people making up almost 20% of its all its visitors. Most Europeans visit in April and the autumn, apart from the Spanish, who mostly visit in June and August.[1]
Morcco has an excellent road and rail infrastructure that links the major cities and tourist destinations with ports and cities with international airports.[1]
[edit] Tourist attractions
While Morocco was a French Protectorate (from 1912 to 1956) tourism was focused on urban areas such as the Mediterranean cities of Tangier and Casablanca. Tangier attracted many writers, such as Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. There was a period of beach resort development at places such as Agadir on the Atlantic coast in the 1970s and 1980s.[4]
Tourism is increasingly focused on Morocco's culture, such as its ancient cities. The modern tourist industry capitalizes on Morocco's ancient Roman and Islamic sites, and on its landscape and cultural history. 60% of Morocco's tourists visit for its culture and heritage.[4] The country's attractions can be divided into seven regions: Tangier and the surrounding area; Agadir and its beach resorts; Marrakesch; Casablanca; the Imperial cities; Ouarzazate; and Tarfaya and its beach resorts.[1]
Agadir is a major coastal resort and has a third of all Moroccan bed nights. It is a base for tours to the Atlas Mountains.[1]
The Majorelle botanical garden in Marrakech is a popular tourist attraction. It was bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980. Their presence in the city helped to boost the city's profile as a tourist destination.[5]
As of 2006, activity and adventure tourism in the Atlas and Rif Mountains are the fastest growth area in Moroccan tourism. These places have excellent walking and trekking opportunities from late March to mid-November.[4] The government is investing in trekking circuits. They are also developing desert tourism in competition with Tunisia.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Hudman, Lloyd E. (2002). Geography of Travel & Tourism. Thomson Delmar Learning, 367. ISBN 0766832562.
- ^ Pennell, C.R. (2000). Morocco Since 1830: A History. C. Hurst & Co, 358. ISBN 1850652732.
- ^ King, Russell; Paolo De Mas, J. Mansvelt-Beck (2001). Geography, environment and development in the Mediterranean. Sussex Academic Press, 174. ISBN 1898723893.
- ^ a b c d Shackley, Myra (2006). Atlas of Travel And Tourism Development. Butterworth-Heinemann, 43-44. ISBN 0750663480.
- ^ Reuters. "Yves Saint Laurent's Ashes Scattered In Marrakesh", The New York Times, 2008-06-11. Retrieved on 2008-06-14.
[edit] External links
- Tangerine dream: searching for the spirit of Tangiers, The Guardian.
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