Fez-Meknes Regional Council Endeavors to Boost Tourism

The Fez-Meknes region has long been one of Morocco’s top tourist destinations given the singular and diverse range of tourist activities on offer in the region. With the COVID-induced economic crisis, however, the tourism sector has been severely hit throughout Morocco, and the Fez-Meknes region was no exception. 

In the pre-pandemic era, the region’s tourism industry was recording unprecedented numbers. In 2019, the region’s tourism-related transactions reached MAD 349 million ($40,6 million). In 2020, however, overnight stays shrunk compared to 2019. In Fez alone, overnight stays dropped by 77% compared to 2019. 

To mitigate such a distressing situation, the Fez-Meknes Regional Council of Tourism (CRI) has introduced a number of measures to improve the quality of the region’s main tourist attractions to appeal to both domestic and foreign visitors.   

Tourist attractions in Fez-Meknes

By the 1970s, the Fez-Meknes region gained national and worldwide prominence as a prized tourist destination thanks to unique tourist attractions, such as cultural, therapeutic, and mountain-exploring activities.  

In particular, the region is one of the favorite destinations for Morocco- or MENA-bound tourists willing to experience an exquisite mixture of antique and modern sites. 

In an interview with Morocco World News, the Vice President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Council of Tourism (CRI), M’hammed Yassir Jawhar, noted that Fez’s Old Medina is the largest Medina in Morocco. Covering more than 350 hectares and being home to more than 10,000 alleys to be roamed, as well as more than 30 km of pedestrian zone, he recalled, the 12-century-old city is a prized site among tourists. 

“The Medina has many historic sites, including Al Qarawiyyin University, Madrasa Bou Inania, and numerous other mosques and riads that were built and restored by several investors in the tourism sector, boosting the city’s tourist attraction,” Jawhar added. 

Other than Fez’s historical city, the region has other tourist attractions such as the Moulay Yacoub spa, Ifrane’s natural landscapes, and Taza’s caves. These captivating destinations provide a fertile ground for different types of tourism activity, with cultural and heritage tourism at the top. 

“The World Tourism Organization gives paramount importance to cultural tourism as the majority of tourists are interested in culture. The Fez-Meknes region contains more than 35% of the historic monuments in Morocco,” Jawhar told MWN.  

Fez’s historical sites and the Old Medina are witnessing serious renovation, in line with King Mohammed VI’s instructions in recent years.  

“The restoration program has exceeded 50-60 historic sites, including hotels, fountains, tourist circuits, historic monuments, student housing, and hammams,” indicated Jawhar, stressing that such an architectural revival has assisted in promoting the cultural aspect of the region’s appeal to visitors. 

But with the COVID-induced economic crisis, the region’s tourism sector had been severely hit, pushing the Fez-Meknes Regional Council to seek new innovative proposals to build on the precedent achievements and revive the distressed hospitality industry.

“Despite the two-year-halt, we worked on discovering and preparing new orientations to restore the Fez-Meknes tourist destination both nationally and internationally,” the CRI vice president noted. 

Read also: Moroccan Tourism Operators: Border Reopening is Not Enough

In its efforts to get the sector back on track, the CRI sought to market new circuits both nationwide and worldwide, participating in international forums and conferences to convey Morocco’s determination to revive its highly valued tourism sector despite the devastating effects of the pandemic.

Such efforts have begun to show promising results, with the Ministry of Economy and Finance projecting an increase in the Moroccan tourism sector’s performance in 2022 compared to the previous two years. 

The reopening of Morocco’s borders earlier last month, coupled with the government’s program to support tourism, will have a positive impact on the sector this year, the Department of Economic Studies and Financial Forecast (DEPF) – part of the economy ministry that compiled the report – said on March 22. 

Ever optimistic, Jawhar appeared to agree with the ministry’s upbeat estimations. “Despite the sector’s current distressing situation, we need to have faith in the future and get tourism back on track,” he said.