Latest news with #RegionalTourismCouncil
Morocco World
22-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Vueling Launches New Seville–Essaouira Route Starting October 2025
Rabat – Spanish low-cost airline Vueling has announced the launch of a new international route connecting Seville, Spain, to Essaouira, Morocco. The inaugural flight is scheduled for October 4, 2025, with weekly service operating every Saturday. Flights will depart Seville at 8:20 a.m. local time and arrive in Essaouira at 9:00 a.m. Moroccan time, with an approximate flight duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes. This new direct connection is part of Vueling's strategy to strengthen its international network from Seville Airport, a strategic hub for the airline in southern Spain. The move aims to improve regional connectivity and offer travelers affordable and convenient access to Essaouira , previously reachable primarily through Casablanca or Marrakech. Located on Morocco's Atlantic coast, Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its historic port, well-preserved architecture, vibrant musical culture, and wide beaches ideal for surfing and other water sports. The launch of this route is expected to boost tourism and reinforce cultural and economic ties between southern Spain and Morocco. Founded in 2004 and based near Barcelona, Vueling serves nearly 100 destinations across Europe and North Africa. The addition of the Seville–Essaouira route reflects the company's ongoing commitment to developing its presence in secondary airports and enhancing cross-Mediterranean travel. Essaouira has welcomed a record of more than one million tourists in 2024, according to Ridouane Khan, President of the Regional Tourism Council (CRT) of the city. He added that the 'City of Winds' also set a new record of over three million overnight stays in classified accommodation establishments last year. He noted in a statement that this success was further boosted by the informal tourism sector, including vacation rentals provided by locals, which plays a significant role in Essaouira's thriving tourism market. The year 2024 witnessed exceptional growth in Essaouira's tourism sector, with the city moving beyond seasonal tourism trends to become a year-round destination. Tags: direct flightessaouiraessaouira-seville
Morocco World
14-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Marrakech-Safi Regional Tourism Council Unveils New Opportunities for Innovation at GITEX Africa
Marrakech – At GITEX Africa 2025, which kicked off today, tech giants brush shoulders with fresh-faced founders and every handshake could lead to a startup, one voice stood out — calm, collected, and proudly representing the Red City. Mountassir Boullal, Deputy Director of the Regional Tourism Council Marrakech-Safi told Morocco World News that 'The Regional Tourism Council is an organization that brings together the private sector, the public sector, and elected officials, all working together to promote the destination of Marrakech and its region.' And promote, they did. From the flashing lights of GITEX booths to conversations on digital nomads and data hubs, Marrakech wasn't just a backdrop — it was a statement. 'CRT Marrakech also manages the brand Visit Marrakech Region, which is a well-known platform both nationally and internationally, with over 200,000 visitors per month,' Boullal stated. 'In fact, it is considered among the best tourist information platforms in the country.' When asked about GITEX Africa, he didn't hesitate. 'GITEX Africa is an unmissable event because of its scale,' he shared. 'Marrakech hosts many events, but having a trade fair that brings together supply and demand in an industry like tech — bringing together investors and young talents — is a major opportunity for our region for several reasons.' He listed them with the clarity of someone who knows what he's here for. 'First, it offers young people from this region the chance to join major groups in the fields of technology and innovation.' He added that for them, as a tourism destination and a leader on the African continent, it's also an opportunity to position Marrakech as a business tourism destination on a continental and even international scale. 'Third, the fact that this ecosystem comes together in Marrakech will bring a lot of stimulation to the economic fabric, helping develop entrepreneurship and the technologies of tomorrow.' You could feel the pride when he spoke of his city — and the plan for its future. 'Marrakech is already positioning itself as a destination for digital nomads — thanks to its geographical location,' he added. 'Within three hours by plane, we're well connected to European capitals, the African continent, the Middle East, the United States, and North America. So Marrakech has a geographical position that offers several advantages to digital nomads.' Then he broke it down — the geographical position and having young talents in technology, artificial intelligence, and all fields. 'So any startup that sets up in Marrakech will have several opportunities to find the talent it needs,' he mentioned. And of course, no one can talk about Marrakech without talking about joy. 'At the same time, Marrakech — the land of Lbahja and celebration — can offer these startups and investors a place for leisure, a unique international balance between work and enjoyment.' But this wasn't just a celebration of what Marrakech is — it was also about what it's becoming. 'At CRT Marrakech and through the Visit Marrakech platform, we launched an innovative project with the Marrakech-Safi region, the city of Marrakech, the Mechouar-Kasbah municipality, and the CNT,' he said. The idea is to bring together several travel experiences with cooperatives from the provinces — namely Chichaoua, Rhamna, Kalaat Sraghna, Youssoufia, Safi, Essaouira, and others — to create, promote, and distribute them on international experience platforms. You might wonder – why this project? It's both innovative and highly relevant, because it will draw some of the tourist flow toward the provinces and other territories, not just Marrakech. It will also create jobs and generate income for local communities, women and young people. And the ambition? Nothing short of poetic. 'We have the ambition to create 1001 experiences by 2029 — and of course, to create jobs that will allow the tourists of tomorrow to not only visit sites and monuments, but also to experience our tangible and intangible heritage in the provinces and with local people.' So when the conversation turned to the global crowd of entrepreneurs, travelers, and investors tuning in to GITEX Africa, Boullal's invitation was simple: 'So we take this opportunity to say to all startupers, investors, and young people from around the world: come to Marrakech. Welcome to Marrakech, the land of celebration, Lbahja, joy, and constant renewal.' Tags: GITEX AFRICAGITEX Africa 2025GITEX Africa Morocco
African Manager
01-04-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia: Sousse sees increase in bookings from traditional markets
Acting Regional Tourism Delegate for Sousse, Mohamed Boujdaria, reported a significant increase in hotel bookings from traditional markets (UK, Germany, France, Eastern Europe, and Algeria) compared to 2024. During a presentation at the first 2025 session of the Regional Tourism Council, Boujdaria highlighted growing demand from Scandinavian markets, particularly for April and May. He also noted encouraging signs of recovery in the Russian market, with negotiations underway to establish six weekly flights—aiming to revive pre-Ukraine crisis tourism levels. Boujdaria added that the Sousse-Port El Kantaoui tourist zone welcomed over 1.169 million tourists in 2024, a 5.1% rise from 2023, with 5.752 million overnight stays (+10.5%). Early 2025 saw 109,419 visitors (Jan-Feb), a 16% increase year-on-year. Tunisians lead winter tourism, Algerians follow Tunisian visitors dominated winter 2025 arrivals in Sousse, surging 20% to 65,142. Algerians ranked second (14,276), followed by British (16,149), French (6,178), and German (3,475) tourists. Tunisia targets 11 million tourists in 2025 2.974 million European tourists visited Tunisia in 2024 (+16.9% vs. 2023). Other arrivals included 72,000 Americans, 57,650 non-Maghreb Africans, 57,000 Middle Eastern visitors, and 23,000 Chinese. Tourism contributes 9% of GDP and supports 400,000 direct/indirect jobs. Authorities aim to attract over 11 million tourists in 2025, sustaining sector growth. Ambitious 2025 promotion campaign The Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT) will launch international promotions in 2025, focusing on participation in global travel fairs to boost investment and highlight new sustainable tourism programs like: Culinary Route, Cinematic Route and UNESCO Route. Industry professionals stressed collaboration with diplomatic missions and Tunisian institutions abroad to enhance the country's global image.
Morocco World
12-02-2025
- Morocco World
Moroccan Tourism Office's Regional Tour Reaches Ouarzazate
Rabat – The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) continues its tour across the country's regions to boost tourism. After visiting several regions, the ONMT delegation has now arrived in Draa-Tafilalet, specifically Ouarzazate, to highlight the region's significant tourism potential. The main aim of this tour is to strengthen connections with tourism operators in the region, represented by the Regional Tourism Council (CRT) of Draa-Tafilalet, along with local authorities. ONMT said in a statement it hopes to understand the needs and challenges of the local tourism industry by engaging with local tourism actors. This visit plays an important role in shaping a regional tourism strategy and implementing actions to promote the region, it added. 'The Drâa Tafilalet region is a major asset for Moroccan tourism, appealing both to visitors seeking cultural discovery and to cinema professionals drawn by its spectacular landscapes,' detailed the statement. A major goal of this tour is to enhance the visibility of each region in the global tourism industry. ONMT aims to position Draa-Tafilalet as a top destination by showcasing its unique attractions and forming partnerships with international tour operators, booking platforms, and airlines to increase direct flights. This effort is part of a broader plan to develop tailored tourism promotion strategies for each Moroccan region. ONMT said it seeks to diversify Morocco's tourism offerings and cater to a wide range of international visitors. Following Ouarzazate, the ONMT's regional tour will continue this week in Fez, followed by the Oriental region, Dakhla, Beni Mellal, and Tangier in the coming weeks. This nationwide tourism initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between ONMT, CRTs, and local authorities. 'The ultimate goal is to implement a high-performing and sustainable strategy that will ensure the harmonious and lasting development of tourism across all regions of the Kingdom. Light In Action continues,' concluded the statement. Tags: ONMTOuarzazateTourism
