By Loubna Flah
By Loubna Flah
Morocco World News
Casablanca, August 23, 2012
Morocco expects tourist flow from Qatar to reach record levels in summer season. Many Qatari nationals shifted their summer destination from Egypt, Lebanon and Syria to Morocco. The political unrest concomitant with the Arab spring has turned Morocco into a major touristic destination for Qatari tourists.
According to the daily Al Massae, Qatari travel agencies registered a significant increase in bookings to Morocco. The touristic demand for Morocco has increased by 53% in comparison with last year.
Samir Al Asha, director of a Qatari travel agency explains: “Despite its remoteness from Qatar, Morocco has become incrementally one of the most sought after destinations for summer vacation as well as Eid vacation.”
The same sources added that other touristic destinations like Turkey and the Arab Emirates are also gaining ground in the tourism market.
An official in the Qatar ministry of tourism explains: “Lebanon was shunned by many Qatari tourists due to the escalation of violence. The Qatari authorities have warned their nationals from traveling to Lebanon”
Syrian tourism has also paid the price for the continuous insurgency. According to the same official, Syria is absent for the second year consecutively from tourism map in Qatar.
Though Egyptian tourism is on its way to recovery, the reprise seems rather slow. The flow of tourists to the Pharaohs’ country is increasing shyly despite the end of the uprising.
Morocco has been for decades one of the most stable Arab countries which has favored the establishment of a strong tourism industry.
Between the heights of the Atlas Mountains, the long coastline stretching from the Atlantic to the West, the Velvet sand dunes in the South, the old Kasbah and imperial cities, Morocco has a lot to offer to travelers and adventure seekers.
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