new mega resort will built in morocco

[sbs]

The Moroccan government and a group of investors signed in Rabat Thursday a convention on the construction of the 5.3 billion Dirham ($588 million) Mazagan seaside resort in El Jadida province.

This tourist station, one of six other stations forming the AZUR plan that aims at drawing 10 million tourists by 2010, will be built over 500 ha and provide 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs. The Mazagen seaside resort will be built up in three phases, the first of which will require 2.4 billion DH.

The deal was signed by Moroccan premier, Driss Jettou, and the Kerzner Group, one of the most famous developers of tourist stations (Sensiti in South Africa, Atlantis in the Bahamas, Palm Duba• project), along with other partners of the private sector.

Jettou said the Mazagan project, "one of AZUR's major ones, will have positive effects on the economic development of the region," reiterating the government's support to this plan until it is achieved within the fixed deadline.

This new investment will not only give new impetus to the economic and social development of the region, which will, from now on, be one of the most popular tourist destinations, but will also make of Morocco a destination of choice for international entrepreneurs, said Adil Douiri, the Minister of Tourism, Handicraft and Social Economy.

Other major resorts are Saidia (northeast), Mogador (Essaouira, Southwest), Lixus (Larache, North), Taghazout (near Agadir) and Plage Blanche (near Tangiers, North). They will cost 45 billion Dirhams ($5 billion) and increase Morocco's hosting capacity by 120,000 beds.

[Ghazala]

Isn't Jettou from the El Jdida region?