Madrid (© 2017 Afriquinfos) – During the 37th Madrid International Tourism Fair which took place from January 18-22, 2017, Morocco was awarded the Commitment to Sustainable Tourism Prize, awarded by the Spanish magazine specializing in rural and adventure tourism “Aire Libre”,
This award, also awarded within the framework of the United Nations proclamation of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, was presented to Morocco, represented by the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), for its successful organization of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) which made it possible to adopt a global action framework to combat global warming.
Speaking at the award ceremony, the executive director of Outside Communication, publishing company of the magazine “Aire Libre”, José Ignacio Fernandez Garcia, noted that Morocco has made sustainable development a national objective, with the aim of placing human beings at the center of development policies.
He placed emphasis, in this regard, on the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), which has been working since 2005 to combat poverty, precariousness and social exclusion, as well as on the National Sustainable Development Strategy which aims to preserve ecological heritage, taking into account the importance of biodiversity in sustainable development.
- Fernandez Garcia also noted that reforestation projects in Morocco covered more than 500 thousand hectares with a wide variety of species, while highlighting the national water policy, aimed at guaranteeing the right of all citizens to water and establishing modern hydraulic infrastructure.
For his part, the director of the ONMT delegation in Spain, Mohamed Sofi, highlighted the commitment of all parties concerned aimed at making Morocco a sustainable and responsible tourist destination, adding that this commitment was illustrated in particular by the organization of COP22.
He also considered that the commitment of tourists is essential to win the challenge of sustainable tourism, adding that the great diversity of Morocco’s landscapes constitutes an asset for increasing tourist flows to Morocco.
This 37th edition of Fitur, which ended on Sunday, established this show as one of the flagship events in the world of tourism, with the participation of thousands of professionals and companies from the four corners of the world.
The Moroccan stand at this show, representing all of the Kingdom’s tourist regions, has been very busy since the opening of this event on Wednesday, with visitors to the show showing great interest in the assets and rich and diversified tourist offerings of Morocco.
Innocent Nice
