British Tourists Flock to Agadir as Morocco Gains Popularity over Spanish Resorts

While the Spanish coast is crowded with seaside resorts and islands like Majorca and Tenerife are becoming hostile to visitors, Agadir has become a reliable alternative for British tourists. Last year, British Airways, which began serving this Moroccan city for the first time in decades, reported a 308% increase in interest in this destination. The new British Airways flights allow British tourists to easily access the city and the rest of southern Morocco: a transfer from the airport to the city center takes half an hour.

Why is Agadir so attractive to the British? After the earthquake that occurred in 1960 and the reconstruction efforts, Agadir is now experiencing a renaissance. A series of new elegant hotels, including The View, which has a large spa complex, and the Fairmont hotel, enhance the beauty of the city. In addition to the hotels, surfing also attracts tourists. Taghazout, a fishing village located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, north of the city of Agadir, is one of the most popular surfing destinations. And surf schools, like Dopamine Surf Morocco, offer lessons for beginners (as well as sessions for the more experienced).

Restaurants like Jardin d’Eau offer Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes to tourists. And places like Hey Yallah, a pastel pink cafe near Tamraght, offer modern versions of traditional snacks, perfect for hungry surfers. "For now, Agadir is the new kid on the block challenging Spain’s hegemony in terms of holidays," notes The Telegraph.