As part of its major annual conferences, the CDS Development and Solidarity Council is organizing an International Tourism Symposium on Wednesday April 11, 2018, at the La Tour Hassan hotel in Rabat.
In addition to Mr. Mohamed BENAMOUR, President of the CDS, former president of the National Tourism Federation -CGEM, signatory in 2001 on behalf of the private sector, of the Framework Agreement and the Agreement for Implementation of the 2010 vision, this symposium is enhanced by the participation of Mr. Mohamed SAJID, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Crafts and the Social Economy, of Mr. Luc CHATEL, former Minister of National Education, former Minister of Tourism and Spokesperson for the French Government, of Mr. Fathallah OUALALOU, former Minister of the Economy, Finance, Privatization and Tourism, signatory on behalf of the Government of the Framework Agreement and the Agreement for the Application of the 2010 vision, former Mayor of Rabat, as well as several ministers, ambassadors, regional presidents, senior officials and presidents of public and private establishments.
This meeting, which will see the participation of more than forty panelists, will try to shed light on the tourism sector as a vector of Morocco’s influence, as well as on its role as a lever for strong and inclusive growth. The panelists will also focus on the examination of the Moroccan tourism offer in the face of changes in the sector, on the issues of digitalization of the tourism sector in Morocco as well as on the challenges of implementation.
Indeed, tourism is a real catalyst for dialogue and rapprochement between peoples. It therefore represents a formidable vector of Morocco’s influence internationally as it contributes to the development of the brand image and the strengthening of links with the World. Tourism also plays a key role in consolidating the country’s strategic positioning, guaranteeing a link between the regions and countries of Africa and the Mediterranean. In this sense, it represents a real geopolitical issue for the Kingdom, according to a CDS press release.
On the other hand, tourism is a driver of the global economy, generating more than 10% of GDP and nearly 1 in 10 jobs globally. A key sector of the Moroccan economy, tourism remains the country’s leading source of foreign currency with nearly 70 billion dirhams in 2017, it is the second contributor to the national GDP and the second creator of jobs. Faced with a national context marked by a trade balance deficit and an unemployment rate of nearly 10%, the dynamic undertaken for the development of the sector will have a direct impact on the economic development of the entire territory, particularly in terms of job creation, participation in the balance of payments and creation of added value, the text continues.
In addition, tourism is a booming sector: 2 billion tourists expected in 2030, with increased competition from destinations. The rapid growth in demand is accompanied by a constant evolution of travelers’ expectations and behaviors. In an international environment where the tourist offer is abundant, the “traveler” experience constitutes a strategic criterion in the choice of the tourist destination. The efforts made must target the entire tourism value chain in order to allow constant adaptation of the Moroccan tourism offer to the best international standards.
source: lnt.ma
