Morocco’s Tourism Office Faces Criticism Over Domestic Travel Campaign

The Office’s initiative to support the regional councils to the tune of 500,000 DH to 1.5 million DH, depending on their potential and the hotel infrastructure they have, does not reach consensus, reports L’Economiste. Some criticize the Office for having shown discrimination in the convocation addressed to the promotion centers such as the provincial councils of Meknes, Essaouira and Haouz. Others, on the other hand, completely disapprove of the merits of the initiative.

This is the case of the president of the CRT of Guelmim Oued Noun, Patrick Simon, who finds that this action of the ONMT is characterized by a lack of preparation and haste, and is therefore doomed to failure. For him, "it would have been better to fill the deficit of approved beds in Mirleft, estimated at more than 50,000 in the informal sector." For the same reasons, the president of the CRT of Fez, Aziz Lebbar, is not enthusiastic about the project either. However, he has passed on the information to his members, considering that his region has no interest in remaining on the sidelines of this campaign, the same source specifies.

The Regional Tourism Council of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (CRT-TTA), for its part, does not engage in controversy. For its president, Rkia Alaoui, this financial support comes at the right time and will serve to strengthen its promotional campaign for the local market, launched a few weeks ago. The president of the CRT of Rabat/Salé/Kenitra, Hassan Bargach, is also smiling. According to him, the initiative is unprecedented in the sense that "it is the first time" that a budget has been dedicated to communication for domestic tourism. "In this post-confinement period, tourism professionals will have to innovate above all by proposing new itineraries and packages," he adds.

As for the CRT of the Oriental region, it is ready to launch the campaign, with new innovative products. According to its president, Youssef Zaki, rate negotiations are underway to offer customers a double room night for a maximum of 1,100 DH until July. "We can start the campaign this week," assures Rachid Dahmaz, president of the CRT of Agadir Souss Massa, a very lively region in summer.

As for Hamid Bentahar, president of the CRT of Marrakech/Safi, he intends to seize the opportunity "to reveal itineraries of his territory, such as Ocean Drive, Mountain drive..."