
Alhambra, Flamenco, and Sierra Nevada : Granada promotes itself in Rabat
The evening was attended by Ambassador Enrique Ojeda Vila, Francis Rodríguez, President of the Provincial Council of Granada, Moroccan government officials, ambassadors, tourism professionals, and journalists. In his speech, Ambassador Ojeda Vila emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties between Morocco and Andalusia, highlighting the region's warm hospitality, rich attractions, and close proximity.
A screening of the documentary «Alhambra, the Treasure of the Last Andalusian Emirate», co-produced by RTVE and ARTE and awarded in Rabat, featured new research and digital reconstructions that offer fresh perspectives on the Alhambra.
Additionally, Paolo Pinamonti, director of the 74th Granada Music and Dance Festival (June 19 – July 13, 2025), and Jesús Ibáñez, who presented updates on the Sierra Nevada ski resort, were part of the event.
The evening was hosted by tourism advisor María José Gómez, who noted that in 2024, 767,000 Moroccans visited Spain, with Andalusia attracting 42% of these visitors, followed by Madrid (24%) and Catalonia (11%).
The following day in Casablanca, a professional meeting will bring together over a dozen tourism companies accompanying the Granada delegation—including Barceló, El Corte Inglés, and various agencies—with more than forty Moroccan buyers.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Morocco World
16 hours ago
- Morocco World
Tahar Benjelloun Calls Out Tourism Prices and Declining Standards in Morocco
Moroccan writer Tahar Benjelloun has voiced dismay at what he describes as the decline in Morocco's tourism standards, warning that many Moroccans abroad now feel unwelcome in their own country. In his article 'Très cher Maroc! (2)', published recently by Moroccan media Le360, Benjelloun drew on readers' testimonies that reflect anger over inflated costs and poor services. Still 'the most beautiful country in the world' One Moroccan living abroad wrote: 'The daily scams, the special MRE prices in July and August, the ferry crossing more expensive than the Channel, hotels that call themselves five stars but barely reach two or three. Theft and corruption are everywhere.' Benjelloun said this sentiment is widespread. He noted that rising ticket prices and the gap between cost and quality discourage many Moroccans abroad from visiting during the summer. 'The rising price of plane tickets in summer has dissuaded MREs (Moroccans residing abroad) from coming back to the most beautiful country in the world,' he wrote. Some, he added, chose Spain or Turkey instead. 'Their children will come less and less to Morocco' For him, the problem lies not only in the cost but in what people receive in return. 'Something is expensive when neither its quality nor its quantity corresponds to the price asked. You can see this every day in restaurants,' he argued. He warned that this pattern risks distancing future generations of the diaspora from Morocco altogether. 'They think their children will come less and less to Morocco and, worse, will stop sending money,' he said. Benjelloun urged authorities to intervene before the situation deepens. 'The competent authorities should do something against this drift, which does not seem to stop but instead spreads improperly,' he wrote. His remarks ignited a lively debate among Moroccans at home and abroad. For some, Benjelloun went too far by publicly exposing the country's shortcomings in the media. They described the renowned writer's move as damaging to Morocco's image on the international stage. And they argued that criticism of this kind should remain an internal matter, not aired in a way that could deter tourists and investors. Some also pointed out that Morocco, despite its flaws, is slowly but surely progressing, and that such progress risks being overshadowed by harsh portrayals. Others defended the writer, insisting that he only voiced what countless citizens and members of the diaspora have long endured in silence from overpriced services, declining quality, and the frustration of feeling taken for granted. To them, this column simply put words to a reality that authorities prefer to downplay. Tags: Moroccan diasporaMoroccoTahar BenjellounTourism


Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Morocco World
21st Festival des Plages Maroc Telecom Brings Music and Joy to Morocco
Rabat – The 21st edition of the Festival des Plages Maroc Telecom lit up Morocco's northern coast, drawing thousands of music lovers to Martil, Nador, and Saïdia. Since its kickoff on August 15, the festival did all it could to deliver nights filled with energy, music, and a palpable sense of joy. In Martil, audiences shared the stage with Rajaa, Omar Belmir, Moughit, and the iconic Nass El Ghiwan. The concerts brought together Morocco's musical heritage and contemporary sounds, creating nights that resonated with tradition and modernity. Saïdia's evenings came alive with Tarek 5 Stars, the dynamic presence of Fnaire, and the unmistakable voice of Salim Cravata. Each performance drew cheers, laughter, and applause, which left spectators immersed in the rhythms and emotions of Moroccan music. In Nador, Farid Ghannam, Said Senhaji, and Zakaria Ghafouli commanded the stage, uniting audiences of all ages under the spell of thrilling melodies and celebratory energy. The festival's 21st edition continues to captivate crowds, attracting tens of thousands each night. Organizers ensured seamless experiences, prioritizing safety, comfort, and smooth logistics for all attendees. The celebration runs until August 21 across six coastal cities, offering locals and tourists alike a chance to enjoy Morocco's summer through unforgettable music, shared moments, and festive evenings. Usually, summer brings a special kind of energy to Morocco, when people flock to beaches, streets, and open-air venues to celebrate music, life, and community. Tags: Festival des PlagesMaroc TelecomMoroccosummer festival


Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Morocco World
Orange Corners Morocco: Fostering Innovation Beyond Traditional Business Hubs
Rabat — Morocco's entrepreneurial landscape is undergoing a transformation, driven in part by innovative programs that extend beyond traditional business centers to reach emerging talent nationwide. The Netherlands' Orange Corners program, a six-month incubation initiative, exemplifies this approach by rotating between different Moroccan regions every six months, ensuring that entrepreneurial support reaches beyond the established hubs of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Morocco World News (MWN) sat with the Netherlands Ambassador to Morocco Dirk Jan Nieuwenhuis and two Orange Corners alumni to discover its impact on young Moroccan entrepreneurs and startups. Nieuwenhuis explained the strategic thinking behind this mobile approach: 'There's so much more to Morocco than just the big cities… there's also a whole world of cities like Beni Mellal, Nador, Agadir, other parts of Morocco that merit our support for the entrepreneurs that are in this region.' The on-the-ground application of the program has yielded impressive results, particularly in women's participation, which exceeds 40% in these regional locations. The program reaches distant regions and aims to find the untapped potential that exists beyond Morocco's major metropolitan areas. Success stories: from wastewater to sustainable construction As startups and young entrepreneurs take endeavors to make their dreams into reality, some know what door to knock on. In the landscape of entrepreneurship, training, mentorship, and network follow-ups are sometimes more important than having monetary capital. Two alumni of the Orange Corners program demonstrate that the program helped them make their innovative solutions, emerging from Morocco's entrepreneurial ecosystem, come true. Their ventures address critical challenges facing both Morocco and the broader African continent. Salma Bougarrani, CEO and co-founder of Green Watech, has developed a groundbreaking approach to wastewater treatment and agricultural reuse. Her company addresses two pressing issues: over 70% of Moroccan rural and urban areas lack basic sanitation services, and the country is experiencing its worst water crisis in four decades. 'The reuse of treated wastewater is not anymore a choice, it's mandatory,' Bougarrani explains to MWN. Her solution focuses on African-adapted, low-tech approaches that are energy-free and significantly more cost-effective than existing technologies, 70 percent cheaper in maintenance and 30 percent cheaper in implementation. Since graduating from Orange Corners, Bougarrani's Green Watech has expanded dramatically, growing from 1,000 to 85,000 end users across seven additional Moroccan regions. The company has treated over 500 million liters of water and contributed to the production of more than 80,000 tonnes of food. Youness Ouazri, founder and CEO of Ecodome Maroc, tackles sustainable construction using local raw materials. His approach addresses energy efficiency challenges in Morocco's construction sector, which ranks as the second-highest energy consumer after transportation. By utilizing earth and other local materials, Ecodome Maroc creates buildings that naturally adapt to weather conditions, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 40-50% compared to conventional construction methods. 'We managed to reduce the price of construction up to 40 to 50 percent compared to regular methods,' Ouazri told MWN. This cost reduction helps democratize access to infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Ouazri spoke of the training and mentoring aspect of the program as a key player in his journey, starting from an idea to scaling up his project, which he now thinks can contribute to the country's hosting of two major and prestigious football tournaments. Strategic collaboration and cross-sector partnerships The two entrepreneurs exemplify the collaborative spirit that Orange Corners fosters. Following their respective cohorts in Casablanca, Bougarrani and Ouazri partnered on an ecological resort project, combining Green Watech's sanitation expertise with Ecodome Maroc's sustainable construction capabilities. This collaboration has positioned them strategically for Morocco's upcoming hosting of the African Nations Cup in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup in 2030, with Ouazri noting that the current context is 'keen to receive investments and to develop infrastructure for rural tourism.' Public-private partnership model The Orange Corners program operates as a public-private partnership, a structure Ambassador Nieuwenhuis considers essential for effective development cooperation. 'What they bring to the table in terms of expertise, in terms of funding, and in terms of experience and networking, it can never be dealt with by a government agency,' he explained. The program provides comprehensive support, including training, mentorship, international network access, monthly allowances, prototyping subsidies, and seed funding for selected entrepreneurs. This multi-faceted approach addresses the critical gap between pilot projects and scaling phases that many Moroccan entrepreneurs face. Broader Dutch-Moroccan cooperation Orange Corners represents just one element of the extent of the Netherlands and Morocco's working collaboration. Other initiatives include the Shiraka program for government-to-government expertise exchange, agricultural innovation support, and energy transition partnerships. The Netherlands sees particular potential in Morocco's renewable energy capacity, including green hydrogen and green molecule production for export to European markets through the Port of Rotterdam. Morocco's entrepreneurial renaissance Ambassador Nieuwenhuis observes that Morocco in 2025 represents 'a very dynamic country with a lot of potential,' with approximately 300,000 new graduates entering the market annually. The country's development over the past two decades, particularly in infrastructure and entrepreneurship, has created an ecosystem that supports innovative business development. The Orange Corners alumni network includes notably successful graduates, including a former Moroccan minister, demonstrating the program's impact on developing leadership across sectors. As Morocco prepares for major international events and continues its sustainable development trajectory, programs like Orange Corners serve as catalysts for innovation, helping transform creative ideas into viable businesses that generate employment and contribute to the country's economic diversification. The success stories of Green Watech and Ecodome Maroc illustrate how targeted support, combined with local innovation and international partnerships, can address fundamental challenges while creating scalable business models suitable for broader African markets.