Moroccan Tourism Sector Gets Boost

Morocco’s tourism authority has recently announced plans to restructure "Azur 2020” one of its most ambitious tourism initiatives aiming to revive this sector after years of stagnation due to financial challenges.

Morocco's Tourism Minister Yassir Zenagui said,"This scheme had ambitious objectives but was forced to stall due to the wide-scale economic crisis."
"The Moroccan government and all the active players in the Moroccan tourism sector, investors and banks -- all the parties involved in the financial and tourism sectors stood in support of this new strategy in order to provide a new impetus to this scheme and to give it a new boost with bigger ambition.”

"Azur 2020" is part of a broader project ("Vision 2020") launched in 2001 under the patronages of King Mohammed VI.

The overall aim of the project is to establish Morocco as a top tourist hub given its clean beaches, rich cultural heritage and well-loved cuisine to attract 20 million tourists to the North African country by 2020.

However, this project was delayed because of a shortage of funds due to the global financial crisis and, more recently, instability following recent uprisings across the Middle East.
Dr. Michael Frenzel, Chairman of the executive board of TUI said "Development of regions is not only development of sun and beach places because people -- our customers coming from all Europe want authentic products. Authentic products means combining clearly sun and beach, combining leisure with culture experience, with wellness experience, with sports, like golf."

Speakers: Morocco's Tourism Minister Yassir Zenagui, Dr. Michael Frenzel, Chairman of the executive board of "TUI.

Voice:
Mourad Kricha