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Rabat — Moroccan tourism professionals recently gathered in Spain’s Seville to promote Essaouira, a major tourist destination for travelers from across the world.
Advisor to King Mohammed VI, Andre Azoulay, attended the meeting alongside the Director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) in Spain.
During the meeting, which took place earlier this week, Azoulay spoke of the city’s assets, describing it as a hub where one finds what cannot be found in any other city in the world.
“Because here difference is celebrated and people gather for the simple pleasure of living together,” Azoulay said, citing the exceptional nature of Essaouia as a space where Muslim mosques, Jewish synagogues, and a Christian church coexist.
“The only one in all of Morocco whose bells still ring every Sunday to call for mass,” he said.
Speakers in the event emphasized that the city, which only had seven hotels in 1991, now boasts over 600 accommodation hubs.
The participants also cited the direct air route linking Seville and Essaouira since 2025 fall, strengthening travelers’ choice with two weekly flights.
The Sevilla City Office said that around 15,480 seats are available on flights between the two cities from November to March 2026.
Jose Manuel Lastra Picazo, Vice President of the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies as well as Luis Marin, President of the Andalusian Federation of Travel Agencies, attended the meeting on Wednesday along with several other participants.
The meeting served as a platform to exchange views on Essaouira’s attractions and other destinations.
Essaouira was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music in 2019 in recognition of its rich music scene, particularly Gnaoua, and cultural heritage.
It has also been elected to host the 18th Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2026. Since 2001, the city’s medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Last year in December, Spanish magazine, Dimension Turistica, described Morocco as the ideal holiday spot for Spanish families.
