Near Marrakech, the Agafay desert threatened by its own success (Le Figaro)

The enthusiasm for Agafay, boosted by social networks and celebrities like Madonna, has transformed this 400 km² expanse into an essential destination from Marrakech. Yet, behind the glamorous clichés, the reality is contrasted: the asphalt, the electricity poles and the parades of quads now threaten the deep identity of this stone desert.

A pioneer in the sector in 2002 with the oasis "La Pause", Frédéric Alaime regrets a time when silence reigned supreme. Today, there are between 40 and 70 structures, ranging from simple restaurants to luxury camps, but only 17 of them have an official classification according to recent surveys.

This dizzying growth is worrying the players in the sector. Samuel Roure, president of MGH Association, points to the depletion of water resources and the lack of wastewater management in several establishments. Many service providers operate informally, which poses major problems of supervision, liability and insurance for tourists. Tourism strategy and preservation of the mineral landscape of Agafay

Despite this uncontrolled development, the magic still works for those who choose the immensity far from the discount circuits. Vincent Jaquet, creator of Inara camp, advocates a discourse of truth: if Agafay is not the Sahara, its ocher undulations facing the peaks of the Atlas offer a unique gastronomic "glamping" experience, especially during nights under the stars.

New players are trying to reinvent the offer by settling in areas still virgin of any implantation. This is the case of Olivier Houziaux with the eco-lodge Nomad’s Land, built in rammed earth and lit by candles. This approach favors total disconnection and respect for traditional architectural techniques to limit the ecological footprint on this fragile environment.

Faced with the urgency, the Wilaya of Marrakech has launched a comprehensive restructuring study. According to the tourism expert Le Figaro, the objective is to harmonize the development of the site to make it a sustainable enrichment of the local tourist product, while protecting its natural and landscape identity against irreversible degradation.