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One of the main destinations targeted by the 2020 tourism vision, the Fes-Boulemane region has just adopted a strategy that is ambitious in more ways than one, likely to place it in second place among the country's international cultural destinations. The region's programme contract, which is to be signed on December 4, has selected, for this purpose, around thirty tourism projects with a total cost of around 8 billion DH, of which 7.6 billion DH will be covered by the private sector, the rest being financed by public authorities.
The programme thus counts on the creation of more than 45,000 additional jobs, going from 32,800 currently to more than 78,000 by 2020, a significant increase in hotel capacity with 13,000 new beds and the increase in tourism revenue to reach 11.7 million DH.
Highlighting the richness of the region's cultural and natural assets, the plan, unveiled during a meeting held recently in Fes, wants to ensure a multiplicity of positionings and targets, through four complementary programmes focusing on Heritage and Legacy, Animation, Sports and Leisure, High Value-Added Niches and Ecology-Sustainable Development.
The various prefectures and provinces of the region are all concerned by these actions, due to twelve projects in Fes, eleven in Sefrou, four in Moulay Yacoub and another in Boulemane, while the two remaining projects should involve more than one province.
By programme, eleven projects are planned as part of the Heritage and Legacy programme, which aims to enhance cultural identity, through the structuring and enhancement of tangible and intangible heritage and the implementation of coherent and attractive tourism products.
Thus, it is planned to convert old character houses in the Medina of Fes into Riads and guest palaces (994 MDH), the implementation of five thematic tourist circuits in the Medina (51 MDH), the tourist development of old squares (20.5 MDH), the creation of a local heritage interpretation centre (7 MDH) and the launch of three similar centres at Borj Bab Jiaf (10 MDH), at Borj Sidi Bounafae in Fes (10 MDH) and at Aouglit (1.6 MDH) in the province of Sefrou. The other projects concern the restoration and revaluation of the Sahrij and Sbaiyine Medersas (12 MDH), the rehabilitation of the Sagha and Achiyech Foundouks, by transforming them into exhibition spaces for artisanal products (12 MDH), the creation of an ethnographic museum in Sefrou (7 MDH) and the implementation of a spirituality trail linking the provinces of Fes, Meknes, Sefrou and Moulay Yacoub (3 MDH).
As part of the second programme entitled "Animation, Sports and Leisure", which focuses on the creation of a rich, varied and complementary animation offer to basic tourism infrastructure, the programme contract provides for a new accommodation offer outside the Medina on the themes of art and traditions, luxury and the art of living (6,000 MDH) and the enhancement of the Jnane Sbil garden (50 MDH) and Bab Lamer (35 MDH), through the development of animation and entertainment activities.
In the third part of this 2020 vision, the region's tourism development strategy intends, as part of its High Value-Added Niches programme, to put in place infrastructure allowing the hosting of major international events and to create synergies with the sports, well-being, animation and culture segments.
Three major projects should see the light of day there, namely the development of well-being activities in the Medina (50 MDH), the redevelopment and enrichment of the Moulay Yacoub thermal station (500 MDH) and the enhancement of the Ain Allah thermal centre (44.11 MDH).
For the fourth and final programme included in this programme contract, it is planned to implement twelve projects focused on ecology and sustainable development.
This involves the creation of eco-tourism accommodation structures in Boulemane (72.8 MDH), the implementation of a stopover gite (1.3 MDH), a refuge (1.2 MDH) and a guest house (1.5 MDH) in the Aouglit-Bouiblane corridor, the enhancement of local products of the Sefrou province (2.5 MDH) and the implementation of exhibition shops (1.6 MDH) and eco-tourism orientation kiosks (1.2 MDH), all along the Aouglite-Bouiblane corridor.
Other ecological projects are also planned, namely the development of a campsite in Sefrou (10 MDH), tourist circuits and rest areas in the Tghate forest (4.63 MDH), an eco-tourism space at the Sidi Chahed dam (8 MDH) and rural and traditional dwellings for hosting with locals (1.2 MDH).
Provider / Source : MAP, Libération
