Morocco to target UK tourists

Even considered investing in a holiday buy-to-let? Morocco may be your best bet, as the country targets British visitors.

Morocco’s tourism chief Abderrafie Zouitene pledged to double the number of visitors from the UK by 2016, with flights to the country on the up. Indeed, the number of direct flights to the North African holiday hotspot will increase to 72 from 58 this winter, including a new easyJet service from Bristol to Marrakech. British Airways will now operate 10 flights a week (up from seven a week).

“I think the potential is huge from the British market,” declared the recently-appointed chief executive of the Moroccan National Tourist Office. “We are going to have half a million UK visitors this year, but our objective is to reach 1 million in the next three years.”

Travel Weekly reports that the country will be targeting niche markets such as golf to drive up awareness of cities across the country, with an aim to be within the top five destinations for golf for British tourists. Indeed, the number of golf courses in Morocco is growing from 35 to 50 in the next two years.

"We have to do more to make Casablanca, Tangier and Ouarzazate well-known,” he added, “because for the British market, it's just Marrakech.”