Jemaa El Fna square benefits from special attention and will be the subject of a specific programme to ensure the enrichment, diversification, and sustainability of its animation.
After uncertainties at the beginning of the year, the tourism sector in Marrakech, the leading destination in Morocco, has recorded a clear recovery and reached its cruising speed for the season with remarkable performances by the hotel establishments of the ochre city.
"The concerns of tourism professionals at the beginning of the season quickly dissipated from the month of March to give way to optimism and a recovery of confidence. Indeed, tourist activity has gradually resumed to reach its cruising speed for the season since last March," it is indicated by the Regional Tourism Council (CRT) of Marrakech.
Last March, 60 hotel establishments in Marrakech achieved an occupancy rate of 50% to 93% (club hotels, 3, 4, and 5-star hotels, luxury establishments, and Riads), notes the same source.
For the first three months of the year, the ochre city totalled 426,982 arrivals and 1,238,467 overnight stays with an overall occupancy rate of 45%. The German market recorded the strongest growth (+106%) during the same period.
Other indicators also testify to the vigour of the tourism sector. This concerns in particular the activity of Marrakech Menara airport with a positive result in terms of movements and passengers. The airport totalled some 975,456 passengers during the first three months of the year.
Regarding the tourism investment aspect, the CRT highlights sustained growth and a diversification of projects. A dozen new hotel units, or 2,000 rooms, will strengthen the current accommodation capacity of the destination. Among these units are large well-known luxury brands, such as "Mandarin Oriental", "Movenpick", "Radisson", or even "Aquamirage" from the TUI group.
On the other hand, the ochre city is strengthening its shopping and animation offer which will be enriched by "Menara Mall" and "L'Aqua park de L'Eden Andalou" which will not fail to strengthen the positioning of Marrakech as a destination for the family.
Chaining major events, Marrakech continues to confirm its new vocation as the destination par excellence for events. Considered the peak of the year, last April was marked by exceptional events with invaluable media fallout. This includes in particular the wedding of a famous Lebanese personality and the organisation of the "British Polo Day" with the presence of high international personalities from various horizons.
Quite recently another event was widely relayed by the international press just as it created a buzz on social networks. This is the stay in Marrakech of the great football star David Beckham who chose the ochre city to celebrate his 40th birthday in the company of his wife and a large number of celebrity friends belonging to the world of football, cinema, and music.
The agenda of the ochre city is full of other mega-events for 2015-2016 which will not fail to put Marrakech in the spotlight.
The notoriety of Marrakech continues to gain altitude by appearing in the ranking of the best tourist destinations in the world. After having appeared in the top 10 in recent years, Marrakech moved to the first rank in 2015 with the distinction "Best destination in the World" awarded by Trip Advisor, the world's leading travel platform. Such a distinction allowed Marrakech to benefit from wide media coverage through the international press relayed by social networks. Some 856 articles were devoted to it in 180 countries, in addition to the Trip Advisor newsletter sent to 60 million members.
During a recent meeting of the CRT with representatives of local authorities and elected institutions, multiple projects aimed at strengthening the attractiveness of the ochre city and equipping it with infrastructure worthy of its ambitions were examined and monitored.
The projects touch on various fields, such as the restoration of historical monuments, the rehabilitation of historical gates and public squares of the Medina, the development of gardens and green spaces, the improvement of urban mobility, security, and cleanliness.
Jemaa El Fna square benefits from special attention and will be the subject of a specific programme to ensure the enrichment, diversification, and sustainability of its animation.
For the short term and in order to cope with the drop in activity during the holy month of Ramadan, the sector's officials have agreed to prepare a specific animation programme around the theme of Malhoun music. Hoteliers are thus invited to make promotional offers which will be the subject of a communication campaign that will be launched shortly by the National Tourism Office (ONMT).
