Moroccan tourism minister: managing juncture without affecting structural projects
Morocco, Economics, 7/3/2003

Moroccan tourism minister, Adil Douiri, stressed on Monday that his department will be managing present hardships without loosing sight of the major structural projects, underway or projected in Morocco.

The official who was talking at a lunch-debate organized by the American chamber of commerce in Morocco said his department will be pursuing the strategy designed to attract 10 million tourists by 2010.

Concerning the present juncture, he said while the gulf war had limited impact on trade with a 13% drop last April in the number of nights spent at Moroccan hotels, the terrorist attacks in Casablanca have yielded a drop of 8%. The French market was not affected but the number of British tourists dropped by 11% and other foreigners' visit regressed by 25 to 50%.

Despite this situation, Douiri was undeterred on the implementation of the 2003 plan as new resort stations were launched and a series of conventions signed with Moroccan and foreign investors to build or revamp hotels.

He said the "structural projects" include accommodation trebling, training, equating accommodation capacity with air transport offer, improving investments environment and close partnership between the state and private operators.

Douiri cited the creation of 10,000 new beds in 2003, the project to liberalize the air space, the creation of the regional tourism councils and new promotion campaigns as successful actions of his department.

Douiri said Morocco wants to attract high-standard tourists, adding that 70% of visitors who chose Morocco for their holidays go to rated hotels and spend an average 800 Euros per person.

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