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Thanks to Saidia's seaside resort, Morocco will have an easy passage into the Mediterranean tourism
In an interview given to the MAP, Mr Mohamed Boussaid, Minister of Tourism and Handicraft, has estimated that the new seaside resort of Saidia (Province of Berkane/Oriental), the opening of which is scheduled to start in June with two hotels of 2200 beds, will allow Morocco to “ get involved in force” into the Mediterranean tourism.
Mr Boussaid has pointed out that a typically Mediterranean tourism in the fullest sense of the word didn't exist before Saidia. But now the Mediterranean as a whole and the Mediterranean tourist Morocco in particular will be taken into account thanks to this station.
On his return from a routine tour carried out in the field, Mr Boussaid has said that all the stakeholders are “mobilized” around the opening, within the given time, of this first station planned within the Azur Plan/the 2010 Vision to reach 10 million tourists.
The 1200 or so workers are fully committed to this “huge building site” in order to accomplish the first phase of this seaside resort within the given time, a station which comprises one of the most important 5 star hotels in Morocco(1200 beds).
Besides the two hotels managed by the Spanish Barcello and Iberostar, Saidia will be equipped, on the same date, with a tourist residence of 1200 beds, a marina, a golf course, a medina, and a shopping centre having international trade names as well as the first series of villas and private apartments. At this stage, the welcome capacity may reach 3500 hotel beds over this site of the oriental Mediterranean (sea) of Morocco .
A challenge met despite the scepticism
The Minister of Tourism places “much hope” in this station in order to “confirm the predictive accuracy of the policy drawn by His Majesty the King for this sector.”
Well positioned in this Mediterranean seaside segment and in a region (Oriental) lacking in historical vocation for the sector, Saidia's station establishes itself as a challenge. Beyond the special appeal of this site to the Moroccan nationals resident abroad, those coming from this region, Saidia should attract Spanish tourists, proximity demands it, as well as the Italian clientele with a propensity for Mediterranean seaside tourism, without necessarily forgetting to mention France .
“Saidia's product” has been the main focus during the contacts established between the Minister and the Moroccan National Office of Tourism (ONMT), conducted within the framework of the professional trade fairs, both in Spain and Italy . Mr Boussaid has ensured that “some commitments are in the process of being signed with several Tour Operators so that Saidia may receive its first tourists this summer”.
“This large integrated project” which combines economic activities and job opportunities/ wealth for the Oriental region is well on the way to becoming a reality, despite the vicissitudes of the past, especially the bankruptcy of the Spanish group Fadesa, the prime contractor of the project.
According to the Minister, it is a “great achievement, considering the restrictive ups and downs” which threatened to impair the good implementation of the project”.
In conclusion, he has underlined that in spite of the crisis and the bankruptcy of Fadesa and “despite the scepticism of some people, we will manage to draw up this challenge and we will not miss this appointment”.
Source:MAP
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