Morocco - Tourism the Top Priority?

The Moroccan tourism industry could soon benefit from a greater range of major attractions as the influx of large number of visitors has necessitated the need for infrastructure improvements, leisure facilities and recreational outlets. The government efforts to make the country's economy less dependent on the agricultural sector are paying dividends. Authorities in Morocco are keen to diversify and generate economic growth in a more long-term sustainable manner by boosting the tourism trade and aiming to boost annual visitor numbers to ten million by 2010.

Research by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) found that the number of holidaymakers in the country rose by 14 per cent last year. The North African country attracted 7.4 million foreign arrivals in 2007. Morocco is proving to be highly popular with European tourists as nearly three million hailed from France; 1.6 million visitors came from Spain and 419,000 British tourists last year. The tourism industry is now an important source of the growth of country's economy, and it has generated almost a tenth of its gross domestic product last year. The holiday industry generated income of £3.8 billion in 2007 which is 12 per cent more than during the previous year.

Morocco is considered as a good-value holiday destination. The "fabulous" weather, beautiful scenery, beaches and a relaxed pace of life has helped to make Morocco a hotspot for foreign leisure travelers and overseas property buyers. Furthermore, the statistics suggest that there is growing potential in the country's buy-to-let market, as increase in the number of foreign arrivals means that demand for holiday accommodation has gone up.

The main reason for the growing popularity of Morocco among holidaymakers and second home buyers is it is easily accessible with budget airlines while low living costs and ample areas of historical interest makes it an attractive proposition. The price of entering a holiday attraction in Morocco is 3 times lesser than that in Spain. Food and drink in Morocco costs lesser than that in European countries. Figures showed that on average, a pint of beer can be purchased for just 51p and in Spain it would cost £1.56 while a three-course meal is priced at just over £10 and in Spain it is £17.50.