Moroccan Tourism generated 440 billion MAD over 2001-2010- Minister
Morocco’s tourism sector generated revenues amounting to 440 billion MAD over the 2001-2010, Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad said.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Moroccan-Touris...
The revenues represent 90% of the goals set for the tourism sector, Haddad said in an interview published on Friday by the Aqharq Al Awsat daily.
Haddad highlighted the importance of tourism in Morocco’s economy as the main source of foreign exchange earnings and the second largest contributor to the GDP, adding that the sector employs 470,000 people.
He added that Morocco achieved 97% of the objectives set in the strategy to attract 10 million annual tourists by 2010. Marrakech remains the most visited Moroccan city followed by the Atlantic city of Agadir, he underscored.
Haddad also pointed to “vision 2020", a strategy providing for the creation of eight new resorts.
He also pointed out to his department’s efforts to attract more tourists from new markets such as China, India, Brazil and the Gulf Countries, the report by MAP concludes.
According to an earlier report by Hassan Benmehdi in Magharebia, Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad earlier predicted 2012 would not be an easy year for the industry as Europeans cancelled, delayed or shortened their holidays. After several years of continuous growth in tourism numbers, Morocco is now hoping that tourist arrivals will at least not fall below their 2011 level, he said.
"This year, national tourism has seen growth of just 1% against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the Argana attack," Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad said in his first media appearance on February 21st.
This year is likely to be just as difficult because of the economic crisis affecting Morocco's main tourist markets.
"2012 will be a challenging year, and we shall need to step up our efforts even more," the minister said.
Tourism figures in Marrakech are beginning to concern professionals in the sector, who are expecting a very difficult year, mainly as a result of the economic crisis sweeping through Europe, from where the majority of tourists arrive.
Hoteliers in the region already felt the effect of the crisis in 2011, which ended in a 9% fall in tourists compared to 2010.The negative trend highlighted by professionals has been confirmed by official figures from the tourism watchdog for 2011. For the first time, real figures have been worse than expectations, while the fall in bookings for 2012 has also been a cause for concern. The countries from which there has been the most marked fall in tourist numbers are Italy, Spain and France.
Haddad highlighted the importance of tourism in Morocco’s economy as the main source of foreign exchange earnings and the second largest contributor to the GDP, adding that the sector employs 470,000 people.
He added that Morocco achieved 97% of the objectives set in the strategy to attract 10 million annual tourists by 2010. Marrakech remains the most visited Moroccan city followed by the Atlantic city of Agadir, he underscored.
Haddad also pointed to “vision 2020", a strategy providing for the creation of eight new resorts.
He also pointed out to his department’s efforts to attract more tourists from new markets such as China, India, Brazil and the Gulf Countries, the report by MAP concludes.
According to an earlier report by Hassan Benmehdi in Magharebia, Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad earlier predicted 2012 would not be an easy year for the industry as Europeans cancelled, delayed or shortened their holidays. After several years of continuous growth in tourism numbers, Morocco is now hoping that tourist arrivals will at least not fall below their 2011 level, he said.
"This year, national tourism has seen growth of just 1% against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the Argana attack," Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad said in his first media appearance on February 21st.
This year is likely to be just as difficult because of the economic crisis affecting Morocco's main tourist markets.
"2012 will be a challenging year, and we shall need to step up our efforts even more," the minister said.
Tourism figures in Marrakech are beginning to concern professionals in the sector, who are expecting a very difficult year, mainly as a result of the economic crisis sweeping through Europe, from where the majority of tourists arrive.
Hoteliers in the region already felt the effect of the crisis in 2011, which ended in a 9% fall in tourists compared to 2010.The negative trend highlighted by professionals has been confirmed by official figures from the tourism watchdog for 2011. For the first time, real figures have been worse than expectations, while the fall in bookings for 2012 has also been a cause for concern. The countries from which there has been the most marked fall in tourist numbers are Italy, Spain and France.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Moroccan-Touris...