Tangier: Tourism, a boon for the region.
30 April 2012
Read by 1627 persons
- Second edition of the National Forum for Employment in Tourism, Hotels and Restaurants.
- Tourism in the North will now benefit from a strategic vision to achieve its objectives by 2020.
- Two objectives: create a capacity of 200,000 hotel beds and create 470,000 additional jobs.
The Tangier International Higher Institute of Tourism (ISIT) hosted, at the end of last week, the second edition of the National Forum for Employment in Tourism, Hotels and Restaurants, marked by the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Haddad. He delivered a speech in which he underlined the interest that the government gave to the tourism sector in general and to the North in particular. "We are determined to relaunch the projects of this vital sector for our country by applying good governance," he declared, adding that they were determined to bring together tourism professionals in the North to sign a program contract with them and accelerate the implementation of tourism projects, while improving the quality of services. He stressed that this sector was the leading provider of foreign exchange, the second largest employer with 450,000 jobs, the second largest contributor to GDP at 8% and the third largest vector of foreign investment after agriculture and commerce. It is also a lever for the national economy.
He specified that the objective was to "double the number of foreign tourists and triple the number of national tourists in this region and in the North by 2020 with a capacity of 200,000 beds, as well as to create 470,000 additional jobs to achieve a contribution to GDP of 12%". He concluded that tourism training should be a priority in this sector in Tangier, a city that has very important assets in the historical, geographical, climatic and cultural sectors to attract foreign tourists and therefore investment, without forgetting the other regions of the North: Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Asilah and Larache.
Training adapted to students
In turn, the director of ISIT, Mr. Mouhtaj, recalled that his Institute, since its creation in 1972, has set itself the objective of providing training adapted to students, adding that senior managers of national luxury hotels included graduates of the Institute among their ranks. Other speakers highlighted the problems that have hindered national tourism and proposed solutions in the short, medium and long term, thanks to the quality of training, support and follow-up. Others called for in-depth work through the establishment of sectoral conventions. For Abderrahim Oummani, ISIT graduate, parliamentarian and president of the Agadir Prefectural Council, the 2010 vision focused on the quantity of graduates, while the 2020 vision places quality at the heart of the revival of this sector, which is a decisive step for the development of this vital sector for the national economy.
In the afternoon, the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Haddad, accompanied by the Wali of Tangier-Tetouan, Mohamed Hassad, and representatives of local authorities welcomed the professionals of the CRT of Tangier at the headquarters of the wilaya. In his speech, the Minister recalled that this meeting was part of a consultation to listen to the professionals of this sector to discuss their problems and find solutions together, because this region has all the assets to become a destination of choice for foreign and national tourists.
Some obstacles to the development of the tourism sector
- Low involvement of elected officials.
- Weakness of the policy to promote this destination, particularly among the Spanish market, which is the largest emitting market for this destination.
- Deterioration of cultural and historical monuments, many of which are closed to visitors.
- Lack of reception and transport infrastructure on arrival at the port of Tangier-Med.
- Poor scheduling by RAM of connections to Tangier from the Casablanca Hub.
- Increased seasonality in Tetouan and its region.
- Delay in the development of the ONMT representation in Torremolinos.
- Delay in the opening of the Tangier congress centre.
- Low resources available to the city council to carry out its mission.
Key points
Tourism, the 2nd largest contributor to GDP. By 2020, contribution to GDP of 12%.
Tourism, the 3rd largest vector of foreign investment.
Tourism, the 2nd largest employer with 450,000 jobs.
200,000 hotel beds by 2020.
Creation of 470,000 additional jobs by 2020.
Abdelmajid Ben Said.
Lematin.ma
Published on April 29, 2012.
Posted online on April 30, 2012.
- Tourism in the North will now benefit from a strategic vision to achieve its objectives by 2020.
- Two objectives: create a capacity of 200,000 hotel beds and create 470,000 additional jobs.
The Tangier International Higher Institute of Tourism (ISIT) hosted, at the end of last week, the second edition of the National Forum for Employment in Tourism, Hotels and Restaurants, marked by the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Haddad. He delivered a speech in which he underlined the interest that the government gave to the tourism sector in general and to the North in particular. "We are determined to relaunch the projects of this vital sector for our country by applying good governance," he declared, adding that they were determined to bring together tourism professionals in the North to sign a program contract with them and accelerate the implementation of tourism projects, while improving the quality of services. He stressed that this sector was the leading provider of foreign exchange, the second largest employer with 450,000 jobs, the second largest contributor to GDP at 8% and the third largest vector of foreign investment after agriculture and commerce. It is also a lever for the national economy.
He specified that the objective was to "double the number of foreign tourists and triple the number of national tourists in this region and in the North by 2020 with a capacity of 200,000 beds, as well as to create 470,000 additional jobs to achieve a contribution to GDP of 12%". He concluded that tourism training should be a priority in this sector in Tangier, a city that has very important assets in the historical, geographical, climatic and cultural sectors to attract foreign tourists and therefore investment, without forgetting the other regions of the North: Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Asilah and Larache.
Training adapted to students
In turn, the director of ISIT, Mr. Mouhtaj, recalled that his Institute, since its creation in 1972, has set itself the objective of providing training adapted to students, adding that senior managers of national luxury hotels included graduates of the Institute among their ranks. Other speakers highlighted the problems that have hindered national tourism and proposed solutions in the short, medium and long term, thanks to the quality of training, support and follow-up. Others called for in-depth work through the establishment of sectoral conventions. For Abderrahim Oummani, ISIT graduate, parliamentarian and president of the Agadir Prefectural Council, the 2010 vision focused on the quantity of graduates, while the 2020 vision places quality at the heart of the revival of this sector, which is a decisive step for the development of this vital sector for the national economy.
In the afternoon, the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Haddad, accompanied by the Wali of Tangier-Tetouan, Mohamed Hassad, and representatives of local authorities welcomed the professionals of the CRT of Tangier at the headquarters of the wilaya. In his speech, the Minister recalled that this meeting was part of a consultation to listen to the professionals of this sector to discuss their problems and find solutions together, because this region has all the assets to become a destination of choice for foreign and national tourists.
Some obstacles to the development of the tourism sector
- Low involvement of elected officials.
- Weakness of the policy to promote this destination, particularly among the Spanish market, which is the largest emitting market for this destination.
- Deterioration of cultural and historical monuments, many of which are closed to visitors.
- Lack of reception and transport infrastructure on arrival at the port of Tangier-Med.
- Poor scheduling by RAM of connections to Tangier from the Casablanca Hub.
- Increased seasonality in Tetouan and its region.
- Delay in the development of the ONMT representation in Torremolinos.
- Delay in the opening of the Tangier congress centre.
- Low resources available to the city council to carry out its mission.
Key points
Tourism, the 2nd largest contributor to GDP. By 2020, contribution to GDP of 12%.
Tourism, the 3rd largest vector of foreign investment.
Tourism, the 2nd largest employer with 450,000 jobs.
200,000 hotel beds by 2020.
Creation of 470,000 additional jobs by 2020.
Abdelmajid Ben Said.
Lematin.ma
Published on April 29, 2012.
Posted online on April 30, 2012.
