"The Ministry of Tourism attaches particular interest to cultural festivals and moussems" Lahcen Hadad, in a statement on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the 9th Beni Batao Tbourida Festival
The Ministry of Tourism attaches particular interest to cultural festivals and moussems, given their contribution to the development and consolidation of domestic tourism, the creation of tourist and economic dynamics, and the promotion of local culture, indicated the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Hadad, on Sunday.
In a statement to MAP on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the 9th edition of the Tbourida Festival of the rural commune of Beni Batao, which was held from 02 to 05 April under the theme "Tbourida, a heritage and an authenticity", Lahcen Hadad indicated that the interest given by the ministry to cultural festivals and moussems is part of the "Tourism for All" strategy, which is based on tourist services with a good welcome and affordable prices, particularly in remote regions known for their mausoleums and thermal stations, where tourism linked to moussems constitutes an ancestral culture for Moroccan tribes.
He added that the attention paid by the ministry to these forms of tourism stems from the fact that cultural festivals constitute a main lever for socio-economic development and one of the pillars of Vision 2020 in its component of promoting domestic and rural tourism.
Likewise, these festivals contribute to the animation of cultural life, the creation of economic and commercial dynamics, and the valorisation of authentic cultural heritage, particularly that linked to Tbourida.
Lahcen Hadad noted, in this sense, that the ministry aspires to valorise this tourist product by ensuring quality organisation, attracting a significant number of sponsors, encouraging young people and women to take an interest in the art of Tbourida, and encouraging farmers and inhabitants of rural areas to raise horses and become owners, within the framework of a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, adding that his department's services are working to improve the domestic tourism index from 28% to 40%.
On another note, the minister maintained that the cultural festivals and moussems organised in several rural communes falling under the municipality of Bejaâd are now positioned at the centre of the Moroccan tourism system, given that they contribute to supporting domestic tourism and attract foreign tourists, noting that this form of tourism makes it possible to strengthen the influence of the regions hosting these events and to foster opportunities for partnership and solidarity between tribes, in the service of exchanges, cooperation and local development.
The Beni Batao Tbourida Festival aims to strengthen the tourist appeal of the region and to make its natural and heritage potential known, to safeguard local cultural heritage, to create economic and tourist dynamics, and to preserve the traditional art of Tbourida as a component of authentic Moroccan culture.
According to the organisers, the Festival, which this year saw the participation of some 400 horsemen and 20 sorbas representing several tribes of Béni Zemmour falling under the municipality of Bejaâd, was marked by the organisation of Tbourida shows and several cultural, educational, sporting and social activities.
