Rabat – Morocco’s bid to host the first African office of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was ratified at the 24th session of the Organization’s General Assembly.
The bid was approved amid strong competition from four other African countries, and UNWTO’s first regional office will open in Marrakech.
The UNWTO Continental Office aims to promote tourism investment and innovation by building on a model of South-South cooperation in line with King Mohammed VI’s vision for Joint African Action.
During the General Assembly, held from November 30 to December 3 in Madrid, Morocco was elected as a member of the UNWTO Executive Council for the 2021-2025 term.
Speaking at the event, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy Fatima-Zahra Ammor, stressed the importance of the meeting , saying it provided a platform for exchange on recovery strategies for tourism activities.
She also recalled Morocco’s efforts to improve the healthcare sector and mitigate the effects of the COVID crisis on several sectors, including tourism.
Ammor led the Moroccan delegation at UNWTO’s General Assembly, which was attended by more than 500 government officials and several tourism professionals from member countries.
Morocco’s participation shed light on the village of Sidi Kaouki in the province of Essaouira as “Best Tourism Village 2021.”
The seaside village of Sidi Kaouki was selected from more than 170 villages from 75 countries, echoing Morocco’s continuous efforts to build an eco-friendly destination for global tourism.
Morocco’s tourism industry has suffered from many downturns following the suspension of flights to and from all destinations to shield the country against an outbreak of the Omicron variant.
The two-week travel ban resulted in a mass cancellation of hotel reservations and tourism activities in the country.
The General Assembly of UNWTO is held every two years to decide on the budget and agenda of the organization, as well as to discuss important issues related to the tourism sector.
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