Latest news with #Alaoui
LeMonde
4 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
In Suwayda, Syria's Druze confront the pull of Israel
With its cannon pointed toward the desert horizon, an aging tank, hidden behind mounds of earth, awaited the enemy's approach. At the entrance to Suwayda Governorate, obstacles erected across the road from the outskirts of Damascus forced the few motorists traveling this route to slow down. About 10 heavily armed Druze militiamen nervously watched the comings and goings. Since the intercommunal violence that struck the Druze population from April 28 to 30 – leaving 134 dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – this region, the heartland of Syria's Druze community, had barricaded itself in anticipation. Just a hundred meters away, the small hamlet of As Sawara Al Kubra, emptied of its inhabitants, bore the scars of the fighting. On Khaled Alaoui's terrace, the spring breeze that swept the arid hills and orchards of the country's south stirred up ashes. His three-story home was consumed by flames, after being looted and set alight amid the violence. "When they entered the village, they destroyed cars, looted houses and stole whatever they could – even the children's toys," Alaoui, a 40-year-old Druze businessman with light eyes and a graying beard, said indignantly. Who are "they"? Radical "takfiri" and "Salafist" groups, he explained, who came to support local Bedouin who had stopped Druze militiamen from Suwayda trying to join their coreligionists in Damascus – with, according to him, the blessing of the Interior Ministry's security service. Many buildings were ransacked or destroyed, including the village's Druze shrine and the mausoleum of Issam Zahreddine – a former Druze commander in the Syrian national army, killed in 2017 by a landmine explosion. For Alaoui, it did not matter that Zahreddine had been a key figure in suppressing the Syrian opposition, the executioner of the Damascus suburbs and central Homs. The destruction of his tomb was nothing more than an "excuse" to "attack us," he said.
Morocco World
06-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Aims to Welcome One Million German Tourists in 2025
Rabat – Zohour Alaoui, Morocco's Ambassador to Germany, talked highly of the relationship between the two countries during a Moroccan themed gala dinner organized by the Agadir Souss-Massa Regional Tourism Council (CRT) this evening in Berlin. The event is taking place on the heels of the International Tourism Fair of Berlin (ITB), which began on March 4 and wrapped up today. Alaoui talked about tourism between Morocco and Germany as a vital part of their excellent relationship and designated it as a 'lever' that can contribute to deepening friendship and achieving the countries' highest ambitions. The diplomat said that Morocco, in line with its values of hospitality and coexistence, considers tourism as an exceptional compass for bringing people together, allowing for a better exchange of knowledge and creating deep cultural ties. 'It is this very wealth that we wish to share with our German friends. Each German tourist who visits Morocco contributes to further strengthening the bonds of friendship that unite our two countries,' she said Alaoui further commented that Morocco's participation in ITB Berlin 2025 demonstrates the country's rising interest in the German tourism market, which is already marked by a 40% influx of German tourists to Morocco in 2019. The diplomat also revealed Morocco's ambitious target of reaching one million German tourists in 2025 as part of the strategy aimed at strengthening the country's position as a tourist destination. This is especially important, given that the tourism sector has become a key driver for Morocco's economy, representing 7.2% of the gross domestic product in 2024. Different factors that contribute to the growth of the sector, the diplomat added, include Morocco's geostrategic position, its economic performance, robust development, political stability, as well its culture of openness and tolerance. All of which are reinforced by concrete government measures and stakeholder participation in the tourism sector, under the guidelines set by King Mohammed VI. The gala was attended by several renowned Moroccan personalities and tourism officials, including Director General of the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT); Achraf Fayda, President of the Agadir Souss-Massa CRT; Salah-Eddine Benhammane, the Director General of the Moroccan Society of Tourist Engineering (SMIT); Imad Barrakad, as well as the President of the National Tourism Confederation (CNT); Hamid Bentahar, among others. ITB Berlin 2025 gathered tourism professionals from over 170 countries, including Morocco, who presented their tourism offerings on an impressive 730-square-meter pavilion. Tags: Africa TourismDiplomacyGermanyMoroccan Tourism
Morocco World
06-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Secures Strategic Tourism Partnerships at ITB Berlin 2025
Doha – Morocco has sealed partnerships with Expedia, Condor, Alltours, and Discover Airlines at the International Tourism Fair of Berlin 2025 (ITB), positioning itself to expand its global tourism reach through the German market. The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) disclosed the signing of agreements during the world's largest tourism trade fair, held from March 4-6 in the German capital. The fair serves as a crucial platform for the global travel industry, bringing together key stakeholders across the travel value chain. According to ONMT's statement, the partnership with Expedia, commencing summer 2025, is projected to double overnight stays within three years. 'This ambitious agreement aims to deploy a 360-degree marketing strategy integrating premium media, public relations campaigns, partner training, and branding actions to strengthen Morocco's image across all Expedia platforms,' the statement detailed. The three-year agreement encompasses marketing initiatives targeting the United States, United Kingdom, and France through premium media campaigns and partner training programs. 'Morocco showcases its tourism offerings through a 730-square-meter pavilion, featuring several Regional Tourism Councils including Tangier, Oriental, Fes, Beni Mellal, Draa-Tafilalet, and Casablanca, with Agadir and Marrakech taking center stage,' the ONMT statement revealed. Germany, Morocco strengthen tourism ties The tourism office also explained that agreements with Condor and Discover Airlines will strengthen air connectivity between Morocco and Germany, while tour operator Alltours will enhance the country's tourism distribution network in the German market. In this context, ONMT revealed it continues to explore additional opportunities with other major air carriers to develop Morocco-Germany connections. German tourist arrivals reached 826,282 in 2024, marking a 22% increase from 2023 and a 40% growth since 2019. Morocco's Ambassador to Germany, Zohour Alaoui, proclaimed at a gala dinner organized by the Agadir Souss-Massa Regional Tourism Council that the country aims to attract one million German tourists in 2025. 'Each German tourist who visits Morocco contributes to strengthening the friendship ties between our two countries,' Alaoui declared, elevating tourism's role in bilateral relations. The ambassador stressed that tourism represents 7.2% of Morocco's GDP in 2024, attributing this performance to the country's geostrategic position, economic indicators, and political stability. Alaoui reiterated that Morocco's tourism strategy aligns with King Mohammed VI's directives, as concrete measures implemented by the government and industry stakeholders position the country as a preferred destination. The gala dinner, held in a traditional Moroccan atmosphere, drew diplomatic personalities accredited in Berlin, political officials, and global tourism industry players, including tour operators, representatives from international hotel chains, and airlines. The event, attended by ONMT Director General Achraf Fayda and key tourism industry leaders, championed Morocco's commitment to expanding its tourism sector. Regional tourism officials, including Salah-Eddine Benhammane from CRT Agadir Souss-Massa and Hamid Bentahar from CNT and CRT Marrakech-Safi, voiced their support for these initiatives. ITB Berlin 2025, which hosted more than 170 countries, was a prime opportunity to uphold Morocco's position as Africa's leading tourist destination, with the country's delegation espousing new opportunities for growth in international markets. Read also: Morocco's ONMT Eyes Asian Market, Targets China as Key Tourism Giant
