Morocco Expands Air Links to Boost Rural Tourism

Speaking on Tuesday during the oral question session at the House of Councillors, the minister stressed the importance of tourist guides in the development of rural tourism, specifying that 459 tourist guides have been deployed in these areas during the year 2023, which represents an increase of 52% compared to the previous year.

Fatim-Zahra Ammor also highlighted the interest of the support program for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises, which aims to promote investment in rural areas. This program supports SMEs up to 35% in terms of investment and up to 90% in terms of expertise. It also provides support for sustainable development projects up to 40%, she added.

The government member also insisted on the need to develop the tourism sector in all cities of the kingdom, noting that some cities like Fez need to reinvent themselves to attract tourists, because as she explained, tourist accommodation is no longer enough to position itself as a tourist destination. In addition to accommodation, it is essential to develop tourist services and recreational activities to encourage tourists to stay for long periods.

The government is working to strengthen investments in the tourism sector in order to reach the objective of 26 million tourists by 2030, assured Fatim Zahra-Ammor, stressing the need to ensure a fair distribution of tourism opportunities throughout the kingdom. She added that rural tourism will also be developed with the enhancement of deserts and oases, hiking and domestic tourism focused on nature.