| Image: PCL |
THE Moroccan National Tourist Office is close to signing
three-year contracts with MyTravel and Thomas Cook that will commit
the operators to seats and passengers, in return for marketing
support.
Similar contracts have been signed with First Choice and TUI and
are part of a government strategy launched in 2001 to increase
visitor arrivals by grabbing a larger share of the beach holiday
market.
In the UK, the tourist office target is 730,000 British visitors
by 2010, a massive increase on the 180,000 who currently go to
Morocco.
UK and Ireland director Ali El Kasmi believes it is feasible. He
said: “We are signing contracts with operators so the
programmes are there, which means the capacity is there.”
He added: “We had one-year contracts with operators before
and capacity varied. This way they commit to a number of seats and
passengers over three years and we provide financial help with
marketing.”
The tourist office is launching a £1 million nationwide
advertising campaign this month and will be hosting around 600
agents on educationals this year. Agents will also see Morocco in
November, at the ABTA Convention in Marrakesh.
Kasmi said First Choice and TUI were approached first because
they were not operating to Morocco – First Choice started
this summer and Thomson starts in winter 2005/06.
He added: “We hope MyTravel and Thomas Cook will sign
contracts this year. The smaller operators will remain on one-year
contracts.”
As part of the new strategy, six new beach resorts are being
created by private companies – four on Morocco’s
Atlantic coast and two on the Mediterranean.
Together they will double available beds to 260,000 and are due
to start opening next year, with work finished by 2010.
Kasmi said: “We have 2,000 miles of seaside and only one
resort – Agadir.
“Villages will be integrated into the resorts so they are
not disconnected from the local people.”
Developments include a 28,000-bed Mediterranean resort and an
8,000-bed complex 50 miles south of Casablanca that will include a
theme park and casino.
