The regional press organises a forum in the spiritual capital: Fes wants to boost its tourism sector

Participants in the first forum organised by the Marrakech Press Club under the theme "Tourism, a development challenge", indicated that the city of Fes, due to its historical and geographical positioning, is qualified to play a pioneering role in the national and international tourism sector as a market receiving tourists of different nationalities. They also specified that the strategy developed by the spiritual capital of the Kingdom requires professionals to close ranks and work to improve the quality of the tourism product. In this sense, Omar Azizi, General Manager of the Les Mérinides hotel, expressed his optimism given the natural and civilisational potential of Fes and its proximity to the thermal station of Moulay Yakoub, as well as Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Ifrane, Meknes and Volubilis, while being a national capital of culture. All these factors push operators in the sector to mobilise for the development and marketing of their city's image. The speaker also added that they need a new dynamic to develop tourism development projects that will have a positive impact on the city. "That is why we must combine our energies to face the situation and meet the challenges imposed on us by the global crisis," he affirmed, recalling that the marketing of the Fes tourism product requires the search for new source markets, particularly in Northern Europe and Russia, without forgetting the Asian markets of China and Japan.

Travel agencies are therefore called upon to promote the city through various festivals and cultural and tourism events and to participate in international trade fairs.

Mr. Azizi also insisted on encouraging domestic tourism to stimulate the sector via natural and health tourism. He also suggested the creation of direct airline routes connecting Fes to Eastern Europe, Russia and the Scandinavian countries.

For his part, Mohammed Adib, Commercial Director, indicated that currently the tourism sector requires special treatment and that betting on cultural and domestic tourism has become a necessity, as is the redevelopment of the old Medina, the maintenance of infrastructure and the creation of entertainment spaces that will contribute to the animation of the city.

Provider / Source : Mohamed Achir, Libération