Domestic tourism: launch of Kounouz Biladi 2009
12-03-2009

The strategy of domestic tourism is a priority of the government; it is in line with the High Royal Directives which are detailed in the Implementation Agreement of the 2010 Vision. The message of His Majesty the King Mohamed VI, may God help Him, to the participants to the 7 th edition of the International Conference on Tourism of Fez in 2007, put much emphasis on the fact that the dynamic of the 2010 Vision should ‘… also be beneficial to domestic tourism, a sector to which we attach a special importance, insofar as it contributes effectively to the well-being of our fellow Moroccans and offers them the opportunity and the right to discover their country and to look back with pride to its wealth and its diversity ”.

 1. Promotion of domestic tourism

In accordance with the governmental declaration and the action plan 2008-2012 , domestic tourism has been established as a key priority in the national tourist strategy. Accordingly, a new operation, Kounouz Biladi 2009, was launched on March 9, 2009 .This new formula for accommodation, developed jointly with the National Federation of Hotel Industry (FNIH) has come up with some novelties vis-a-vis the previous editions, thanks to the commitment and to the efforts made by the hotel owners taking part (in such an operation).

This is an operation which will be spread over the whole year, covering all the national territory and providing competitive offers. The prices of this new edition, which include all taxes and a breakfast, are as follows:

•  2 * hotel: 260DH incl.VAT (TTC) per room

•  3 * hotel:360 DH incl.VAT per room

•  4 * hotel: 560 DH incl.VAT per room

•  5 * hotel: 60% off per room (at public prices)

More than 200 hotel accommodation establishments have joined this operation in a voluntary way, thus reaching a bed capacity in the order of 8000 beds, available in these types of hotels and on the whole territory.

 2. Public-private partnership

In addition and being part of the historical partnership between the private sector and the public authorities, the Moroccan National Office of Tourism supports this new edition through the resort to some accompanying measures in the field of communication. So, it is expected that a call centre ( 0801002020) as well as an internet web site www.kounouzbiladi.ma will be put into place, with a view to informing and helping the customers.

Some large scale communication campaigns are also scheduled to promote this new offer related to Kounouz Biladi 2009 on the basis of several media-based materials (written press, broadcasting and television technology).

3. A global strategy for the development of domestic tourism

The development of domestic tourism represents an important social and economic issue, in that it generates numerous tourist activities (20% of overnight stays recorded as regards attendance at classified hotels).The design of products intended to meet the needs of our fellow Moroccans, at affordable prices, will offer them the opportunity to travel, to discover their country and to take advantage of the promotion of the sector. For that purpose, the Ministry of Tourism and Handicraft has developed a strategy which endeavours to remove all the barriers that impede progress in reaching this goal.

This strategy called Biladi Plan is aimed at the achievements of the tourist stations dedicated to domestic tourism, a form of tourism which strives to reach 9 million overnight stays in 2012 against 3, 2 million in 2007.

The Biladi stations, which are under construction, will offer a product which is suitable for the Moroccan customers' habits, at affordable prices. Three stations have already been under private management: they concern Ifrane (opening scheduled at the end of 2010) as well as Imi Ouaddar in Agadir and Sidi Abed in El Jadida (middle of 2011).

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