Morocco's culture, history, major attraction for tourists, poll

Morocco's culture and history represent the major attraction for 72 percent of French tourists polled by the Moroccan tourism authority (ONMT).

The poll, conducted on a sample of 1,079 French nationals showed that 64 percent of the polled people already visited Morocco at least once.

Some 59 percent of the polled people believe that Morocco has a "very good" image.

Fourty-one per cent of the French tourists come to Morocco to enjoy its sea resorts, while 31 percent prefer the human contact in the country. Sports attracts only 5 percent of the polled people.

Relatedly, ONMT said the number of British tourists visiting Morocco posted a 23.9 percent increase at the end of last March compared to the same period in 2000.

Their number reached 36,447 people, the source said, adding the British topped all European visitors to Morocco in the first quarter of this year.