Rabat – Overnight stays in classified accommodation establishments in Fez increased by 37 percent at the end of February 2017, compared with the same period in the previous year.
According to statistics from the regional tourism delegation, during the two first months of this year, 115,726 overnight stays were registered, compared to 84,411 overnight stays during the same period of 2016.
As for arrivals in classified hotels during the same period, they registered 64,493 at the end of February 2017. This is compared against 45,908 during the same period in 2016, showing an increase of 40 percent.
The average length of stay at the end of February was 2 days, a rate identical to that achieved during the same period of 2016.
According to the same source, overnight stays recorded in February 2017 reached 64,385, compared with 43,944 overnight stays during the same period last year, marking a rise of 47 percent.
In the first two months of the current year, tourist establishments classified as 3, 4 and 5 stars accumulated almost all nights per stay in the city of Fez. The occupancy rate was 27 percent, compared to 23 percent in the same period of 2016.
The number of operational rooms recorded this February was 4,342. Of this number, 1,190 were in the 5-star category, 1,208 in 4 stars and 696 in 3 stars, as well as 709 rooms in guest houses.
A total of 29 projects with an investment representing nearly MAD 8 billion were implemented under a program contract signed in Fez to offer additional litter capacity of 13,000 beds.
The projects will allow the city to welcome 1.1 million tourists by 2020 and to garner tourism receipts in the order of MAD 11.7 billion.
On the social level, the contribution of these projects is undeniable with the creation of more than 45,000 additional jobs. The current figure of 32,800 jobs will increase to more than 78,000 by 2020.
This program, which the regional tourism delegation perceives as a roadmap for the tourism development for the region, will take advantage of the exceptional cultural, historical and civilizational heritage the city of Fez offers.
