SHORT HAUL
Hot property
MOROCCO
Morocco’s trump card is its diversity – coastlines on the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, beaches, desert, mountains and fascinating cities, says Richard Williams
M
orocco can reasonably lay claim to being Africa’s ‘all-rounder’ when it comes
to attractions. Aside from great beaches, sand dunes, mountain peaks and appealing cities with their own unique USPs, it also appeals to adventure seekers – think desert jeep safaris, camping out under the stars and cycle tours and treks through the Atlas Mountains. Casablanca, Rabat and Agadir are modern-looking cities, whereas the medinas of Marrakech and Fès take you back a thousand years in time. You can embrace the culture by staying in a riad, decorated and furnished in traditional style, and enjoying Moroccan cuisine. Sheena Paton, Market Manager for
Kuoni, says: “There’s a wide range of accommodation styles – tiny
riads tucked away in the medina of Marrakech; mountain retreats like Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot, complete with luxury Berber tents; intimate boutique hotels, such as La Sultana Marrakech, overlooking the Saadian Tombs; and exquisite hotels, such as Four Seasons Marrakech, echoing Morocco’s rich heritage.” Some old Morocco hands may want to take a cookery course, which teaches the basics of North African cuisine. Others will be happy browsing through the markets, haggling with the merchants over jewellery, copper and brassware, pottery, textiles and rugs. Nicky Shafe, Marketing Manager
for Prestige Holidays, comments: “Our Morocco business is 30% up year on year and we are seeing a good proportion of repeat business.
TIP
Quick getaway...
“For those wanting a near-to-home break, it’s just a short flight to a destination with a warm climate most of the year” Sheena Paton, Kuoni
“You cannot beat Marrakech for a
short break. “It’s just a short fl ight away and is
so colourful and alive. It also offers a great combination of shopping, culture, and good food.” As a change from Marrakech,
many travellers are now heading to Fès. This ancient city, dating from the 8th century AD, is the cultural capital of Morocco. The old town, Fès el-Bali, is a
World Heritage site. Highlights include the intricately decorated Bou Inania and Attarine Medersas and the Karaouiyine Mosque. The mazy medina has a henna souk, a slipper souk and a spice souk. Suggest staying at the Riad Idrissy, a three-storey mansion in the medina. It is luxuriously furnished in traditional style and features truly authentic food and exquisite service standards. More conventional types may
prefer the Hotel Les Merinides, a smart modern hotel overlooking the old town. Last November the Moroccan National Tourist Offi ce won a Travel Agents’ Choice award, awarded by Selling Long Haul.
Tourism talk “Our key focus is on promoting the variety that awaits visitors when they
come to Morocco.
“The aim is to ensure that travel agents, tour operators and consumers know that each region has something different to offer. “Over the next six months we will
continue to delight and surprise potential visitors by educating them on key regions off the beaten track, for example, Essaouira, Fès and Ouarzazate, as well as consolidating communication around favourite hotspots for tourists such as Marrakech and Agadir. “In the UK, an intensive programme
of press visits, relationship building and ‘infl uencer strategies’ go into leveraging key regions, with events both in Morocco and here in the UK, to generate more positive, meaningful media coverage.” Jamal Boujrad, Communications Manager, Morocco Tourist Board.
This page, clockwise from left: Kasbah de Tifoultoute; Tangier; Chefchaouen.
Next page: desert dunes, Chefchaouen; Tangier, Rabat’s Royal Palace
www.sellinglonghaul.com • March 2013 73
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