PLAN AZUR

Being endowed with important natural assets as well as a rich and varied cultural heritage, Morocco has opted for the promotion of the tourist sector, putting in place a voluntary strategy of tourism development which is likely to trigger sustainable and integrated development dynamics.

As regards Moroccan tourist policy, the year 2001 broke away clearly from the past. For that purpose, since the speech pronounced by His Majesty, King Mohamed VI, on January 10, 2001 in Marrakech during the National Meeting on Tourism, Morocco has officially been engaged in a new tourist policy

•   The Framework Agreement and the Implementation Agreement, fundamental national meetings for a sustainable and integrated tourist development.

Morocco is endowed with a strategy which is directed towards the future to approach the sector of tourism with a long-term vision reinforced by a detailed contract program based on figures.

Conscious of the potential of this industry, the State has set up tourism as a national economic priority since the signature, under the Real Presidency of His Majesty Mohamed VI on January 10, 2001, of the Framework Agreement between the Government and the General Confederation of the Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). This initiative has been reinforced by the signature, on October 29, 2001, of the Implementation Agreement of the Framework Agreement, engaging thus the two parties to be contracted to implement the strategic device of the new tourism policy called “the 2010 Vision ".

•   Clear objectives based on figures

The defined objectives are very ambitious both in terms of quantity and quality. "The 2010 Vision” sets itself the goal of achieving the following figure-based objectives:

• Concerning tourist arrivals, it is planned to reach 10 million of tourists, 7 million of whom are international tourists (against 5,5Million in 2005);
• As regards hotel capacity, 160.000 beds will be created (130.000 beds in sea tourist resorts and 30.000 beds in the cultural destinations of the country), putting the national capacity up to 230.000 beds;
• Investments: the volume should reach 8 to 9 billion Euros, (planning of the new sea tourist resorts, infrastructures, hotel trade and entertainment);
• Receipts: it is expected to reach 48 billion of Euros concerning receipts in foreign currency,
• Jobs: 600.000 new jobs will be created;
• Contribution of tourism to the GDP: this contribution should annually rise by 8.5%(on average), which would bring it to around 20% by the year 2010
• The 2010 Vision : the six big building sites

In order to allow tourism to play fully its role as a driving force of socio economic development of the country, a great deal of measures and precise actions has been defined, with an implementation planning, follow-up and assessment operations.

The "2010 Vision "revolves around 6 fundamental building sites , which are real operational levers, permitting to achieve the objectives set forth in this strategy.

These building sites are related to the Product, Training, Air Transport, Marketing and Communication, Tourist Environment and to the Institutional Organization.

Source: www.tourisme.gov.ma

To download the entire document entitled Framework Agreement in English, visit:
Moroccan Tourism Website (.pdf file)