Morocco, 5th tourism destination for Spaniards

Morocco has become the 5th destination of Spanish tourists after France, Portugal, Andorra and the USA, said in Madrid Thursday Moroccan economy, finance, privatization and tourism minister, Fathallah Oualalou.

The official who is on a work visit to Spain said some 260,000 Spanish tourists visited Morocco in 2000.

Oualalou also announced that Spanish secretary of state for tourism, Juan Costa, will pay a visit to Rabat by the end of this month for talks with Moroccan officials on management and training in tourism.

He recalled that following the visit to Spain by King Mohammed VI last September, Spain donated Morocco 50 million pesetas to finance a feasibility study on a new Mediterranean sea resort.

Tourism facilities to be built along the 13 km-long shore will have a guest capacity of 10,000 to 15,000 beds.

Meanwhile, Spanish tourism group "Sol Melia" confirmed it will launch construction of two new hotel compounds, worth 100 million Euros, in Agadir (Atlantic sea resort city in southern Morocco). The facilities will consist of 500 suites, a golf green and a conference hall.

The minister visited the Madrid international tourism fair (Jan.31 through Feb.4) and met Spanish tour operators who market the Moroccan bound. A Moroccan pavilion, extending over 304 square meters, displays services and products offered by the Moroccan tourism office, air carriers (RAM and Regional Airlines), tour operators and hotels.