In Ouarzazate, Tourism is Strong Pillar for Economic Growth

Rabat – As an essential source of job opportunities and inclusive development, tourism is a key economic activity in Morocco, Zoubir Bouhoute, Director of Local Tourism Office (CRT) in Ouarzazate told Morocco World News, on the sidelines of the International Symposium on Tourism held on Wednesday in Rabat.
MWN chatted with Bouhoute about Morocco’s tourism strategy, the challenges facing the sector, the tourism potential in Ouarzazate, and the city’s readiness to host games of the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking about the event, Bouhoute said that the symposium was organized to underscore the importance of the sector, emphasizing that tourism serves as a pillar of the national economy.
Tourism, a Pillar of Morocco’s Economic Growth
“The tourism sector plays an important role in promoting tourist-hub areas in Morocco, spreading the culture, values, and history of each region,” said the chief of Ouarzazate’s CRT.
He emphasized that international tourists can also promote Morocco’s tourism sector, adding that those visitors are “ambassadors” who can positively encourage their friends and family to visit Morocco if provincial tourist offices “served them well.”
According to Bouhoute, the sector served as a backup plan to fix trade imbalances that the country has been facing over the years.
Tourism in Morocco provides MAD 70 billion annually, an income that contributes to creating a balance and avoiding trade deficit.
He added that the country would be able to avoid all economic obstacles if it could further develop this sector, stressing the necessity of innovative digital governing solutions.
Bouhoute noted that the tourism world has been witnessing an increasing shift towards digitalization: “Travelers now rely on the internet to book their flights and hotels. They are no longer relying on traditional procedures, like travel agencies.”
Regarding challenges facing the sector, the tourism expert emphasizing that the country still has work to do in order to overcome these challenges. He said that the sector is connected to infrastructure, transport, and other economic activities. Therefore, the government needs to enhance efforts to provide the sector with the assets it needs to achieve more development.
He added that government support is essential, adding that the cabinet needs to cooperate in the promotion process.
“Despite the proximity between Morocco and Europe, there is a lack of air transport, linking between Morocco’s regions and European countries.” Bouhoute added that airline companies should also contribute to the promotion of tourism in Morocco by incentivizing travel offers.
Looking forward, he believes Morocco’s provincial offices for tourism will need to devise creative and innovative strategies to attract more tourists, including further digitalization and advertising.
Ouarzazate is Ready to Host 2026 World Cup Games
Bouhoute noted that the country has all the necessary assets to host the massive tournament.
The tourism director the 2026 tournament would help in the development Ouarzazate, greatly increasing the number of tourists to the region.
In reality, all regions of the country would benefit from important infrastructure projects, and the construction of these projects would create job opportunities throughout the country. Morocco must now up its efforts to increase its chances to host the tournament, according to Bouhoute.
Speaking about the readiness of Ouarzazate, the CRT director said that the proposal to organize some of the 2026 World Cup games in Ouarzazate would have a positive impact.
Though Bouhoute mentioned that the city could accommodate 3000 people in various hotels, he believes the city must expand its investments to properly mobilize for such a huge number of tourists. But these investments, too, would create more employment opportunities.
Business Challenges in Ouarzazate
Despite its excellent diversity, the city has experienced difficulties attracting investors. In response the Ouarzazate tourism director said that his office is visualizing a digitalization strategy that would contribute to the development of the region.This could serve as an incentive to business travelers and investors.
Hospitality, good governance and tourism management are also essential to the success of tourism sector, he added.
Ouarzazate’s Faithful Tourists
The CPT director also shared some of Ouarzazate’s tourism statistics with MWN. Moroccan nationals are taking the lead in Ouarzazate’s tourism, followed by French tourists.
In January, Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported that the French tourism indicated the highest growth, representing 11.95 percent of total arrivals in Ouarzazate.
French visitors from January to November 2017 reached 29,195 tourists, up from 22,220 in 2016.
Bouhoute added that the Spanish visitors follow the French, though the city of Ouarzazate has seen an increase in Chinese tourists in recent years, according to the CPT’s director, who added that the Chinese market recorded “spectacular performances in 2017, following the removal of visa requirements for Chinese tourists.
Le 12 Avril 2018
Source Web : Moroccoworldnews
Les tags en relation
Les articles en relation

Rahou Belghazi accuse la RAM de saboter la destination Ouarzazate
Un ATR de la Royal Air Maroc Express utilisé pour ses liaisons régionales. PLANESSPOTTER Après sa charge contre le ministre du tourisme, Mohamed Sajid, en...

Stratégie touristique au Maroc : Cap sur une croissance doublée des arrivées du Conseil de coopé
Le Maroc vise à doubler le nombre de touristes en provenance du Conseil de coopération du Golfe (CCG) au cours des trois prochaines années, révélant ainsi ...

40% de touristes algériens en plus à Agadir
La ville d’Agadir connaît une année morose avec la désaffection de ses principaux marchés émetteurs comme la France, l’Allemagne ou encore la Belgique....

#MAROC_TOURISME_Dakhla: Future destination balnéaire mondiale
L’Office National Marocain du Tourisme (ONMT) veut positionner la région de Dakhla Oued Eddahab comme destination balnéaire sur l’échiquier mondial. La t...

Le tourisme après COVID-19 – Le CRT du Maroc Une locomotive pour une régionalisation avancée
Les présidents des conseils régionaux du tourisme (CRT) ont envoyé le 30 avril un rapport au ministre du Tourisme, du Transport et de l’Artisanat proposant...

Tourisme: Le couple public-privé bat de l’aile
Les doléances ignorées et plusieurs annonces restées sans lendemain Des projets lancés sans la concertation des partenaires dans les régions Le secte...

Marrakech : boom immobilier avant la Coupe du monde 2030
Marrakech connaît une flambée de la demande immobilière, alimentée par l’intérêt croissant des investisseurs étrangers, des touristes et des Marocains ...

Hamid Bentahar: «Si nous n’ouvrons pas les frontières aux touristes étrangers, la saison 2021 s
La ville ocre espère revoir ses touristes cet été. De son côté, le tourisme national ne permettra pas de sauver la saison qui risque d’être pire que cel...

Record historique pour les recettes touristiques marocaines en août 2024, avec 17 milliards de dirh
En août 2024, les recettes touristiques marocaines ont atteint un sommet inédit, avec 17 milliards de dirhams générés en un seul mois, selon le ministère ...

A REFLECHIR Tourisme : quels enseignements tirer de l'étude faite à partir du comportement de 2 mi
Il est loin le temps où les études se limitaient à un échantillon de 1 000 Français représentatifs. Avec le web, les études se basent sur des milliers vo...

Tourisme Chine-Maroc : objectif 500 000 arrivées en 2030
Après cinq ans de suspension, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) relancera la ligne directe Casablanca-Pékin en janvier 2025. Cette reprise stratégique devrait permettre ...

Première édition de l’appel à projets touristiques : des résultats prometteurs pour la région
La Société de Développement Régional pour la promotion de la Toute Petite, la Petite et la Moyenne Entreprises Touristiques de la région Souss Massa (SDR T...