Morocco exceeds 5 million tourists

[Ghazala]

DON'T GET EXCITED THO' - MORE THAN 1/2 THAT FIGURE WERE PEOPLE LIKE US GOING HOME

Morocco exceeds 5 million tourists, as government vows more perks to investments



RABAT, Dec.29 - Morocco attracted between last January and November 5.12 million tourists, posting a progression of 17% compared to the same period of 2003, says the tourism, social economy and handicraft ministry.

The figure includes Moroccan expatriates, with 2.61 million (a progression of 10%). A total of 1.08 million French nationals chose to vacation in Morocco, followed by Spaniard (280,687), Britons 155,354, Germans (134,798) and Italians (102,650).

Tourists from the Maghreb countries were estimated at 74,119.

The number of hotel guest nights stood at 12.25 million units, increasing by 18 pc as compares to Jan-Nov. 2003.

Meanwhile, the government has vowed to effect additional incentives to investments in the sector of tourism by encouraging insurance companies and pension funds to invest in the sector.

The government will also conclude with banks new long-term loans to finance hotels, says tourism, social economy and handicraft minister, Adil Douiri.

Other measures include simplifying and rationalizing the local taxation system, alleviating the fiscal burden in force after the gulf war and the Casablanca terrorist attacks of May 2003. Hotels profits will exempted from taxes for five years, followed by a 50% tax cut and the cancellation of local taxes applied to he tourism sector.

Several tourism zones were developed and conceded to private investors, in addition to allocating a fund to support real estate in order to lower the price of tourism facilities-bound land plots, the minister told the parliament on Tuesday.

© MAP 2004

[-thetruth]

Good news.
however we need more hotels last year Most hotels In Marakesh and Agadir around August were booked except the 5 star ones and we need cheaper flights aswell and better customer services

[Ma_Li_Ka]

Originally posted by -thetruth
better customer services

Hahahahahahahahahaha kanmout bd7ak! "better customer services" gaalek

How can there be BETTER customer services when there aren't any? I'm really sorry, but I honestly think, we Moroccans, don't know anything about how to serve the customer. I mean, why would we? The pay is lousy, back home. And why would we also? We don't care if the customer comes back or not. It's not our business. Great mentality!

<we = 3rd person pl.>

what are 5 millions compared to the 18 millions of Turkey or 10 millions of Egypt ...those two countries had a 30% to 40% increase last year ....

[Ghazala]

They are both a lot cheaper to get to from the UK NAK & that is why there are more visitors. Turkey is bargain basement, as it is Egypt & Tunisia. Morocco is still not cheap - except Agadir in low season. If they want holidaying families in large numbers, they would have to start building massive complexes on beaches.

Personally, I prefer that we keep lower numbers & attract more 'exclusive' visitors who spend spend SPEND! The last thing we need are trashy English tourists spending all night getting trashed & the next day face down on the beach with a hangover. The only people who will benefit from them are bars & prostitutes. They have already spoilt many parts of Europe with their disgusting behaviour.

[Anisa]

they don't ruin the country. We could all do without fish & chips & beer

[Ghazala]

Can you imagine a Queen Vic or Rovers Return pub in Morocco? I would rather have more French culture than have English 'traditions' foisted upon us. ****ooooooo.......

Let's hope the Chavs don't ever come to Maroc!