The promotion of the Pearl of the North to international tourists continues. To this end, and within the framework of an ambitious national communication and marketing strategy to promote the sector, Tangier hosted, on Friday 23 October, the visit of a selection of about ten journalists representing various media outlets in Switzerland, of which "20 Minutes" is the most important newspaper in terms of circulation in this European country.
Having started on Wednesday 20 October in Rabat, this press trip is the result of a partnership agreement between the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), the Swiss hotel chain Moevenpick, and the Regional Tourism Councils (CRT) of the regions targeted by this new operation. This press trip, which included the Northern region, Rabat, and Casablanca, "allows the journalists benefiting from this visit to discover the tourist potential in Morocco, which is of great interest both for the Moevenpick chain and for Swiss tourists.
We were very seduced by what we have just seen during this visit which ends on 24 October, in Casablanca," indicated Tina Seiler, communications officer at Moevenpick-Hotels.
It should be noted that this visit is part of a series of press trips initiated by the ONMT, during the year 2015, through the tourist destinations of the Kingdom, and for the benefit of about forty Swiss journalists, the majority of whom are specialists in tourism. "This new action aims to consolidate the image of Morocco by highlighting regions less known to Swiss tourists, thus diversifying the offer in this market," the organisers state.
It should be noted that out of more than 8 million inhabitants (including 2 million foreigners) that Switzerland has, some 82,000 Swiss tourists, according to data provided by the ONMT, visit Morocco on average each year.
This represents a significant market share, specifies the same source, which must continue to be boosted.
Regarding the Tangier destination, whose national clientele is positioned in the first rank (with more than 50% of arrivals and overnight stays), followed by the Spanish, French, and English markets, a visit was organised in partnership with the CRT Tangier-Tetouan to the most important historical and tourist sites of the city.
Among them, the Kasbah of Tangier and its museum, known as the Sultan's Palace, which was built at the end of the 17th century, during the reign of Moulay Ismaïl, by Pasha Ahmed Ben Ali Riffi. This press trip dedicated to the northern region included another visit carried out in coordination with the league of tourism sector actors of Asilah to the Medina, which is full of historical monuments, including the Raïssouni Palace, Masjid Al Aâdam (the Great Mosque), Al Kharazine, as well as the famous towers of Al Kamra and Krikia.
