Responsible Tourism WTM London Atlas Kasbah of Agadir honors Morocco by winning the International Trophy.
On November 4, 2015, during the 36th edition of the London International Tourism Fair (“World Travel Market”), the Atlas Kasbah ecolodge in Agadir won the International Responsible Tourism Award (“WTM Responsible Tourism Award”). Atlas Kasbah was selected among 600 tourist structures in the world to obtain this trophy in the “best hotel for local development” category.
On November 4, 2015, during the 36th edition of the London International Tourism Fair (“World Travel Market”), the Atlas Kasbah ecolodge in Agadir won the International Responsible Tourism Award (“WTM Responsible Tourism Award”). Atlas Kasbah was selected among 600 tourist structures in the world to obtain this trophy in the “best hotel for local development” category.
The World Responsible Tourism Awards are organized each year to recognize the best responsible tourism initiatives in the world. The jury made up of around thirty global experts in the field: academics, professionals, consultants and specialized journalists had the difficult task of choosing among the best projects in the world.
Through this nomination, the entire Morocco destination and in particular Agadir and its region were put in the spotlight. Several personalities from around the world attended this important event including ministers of tourism, authorities of the world tourism sector and other institutions such as the ONMT of London, the CRT of Agadir as well as the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization and tourism professionals…
Hassan ABOUTAYEB, owner of the ecolodge, clarified on this occasion that: “this trophy is not only for the Atlas Kasbah ecolodge, it marks the efforts of the entire rural community around the ecolodge. It is also recognition for the Agadir region and for the entire Kingdom as a green destination. Mr. Zouiten, Director of the ONMT, welcomed the efforts made at the local level for tourism promotion and Mr. Hafidi, President of the Souss Massa Region, expressed his congratulations and expressed his wish to see sustainable tourism flourish even more in our region.
Created in 2009, the Atlas Kasbah ecolodge is a few kilometers from Agadir, on the foothills of the Western High Atlas and in the heart of the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve. It offers accommodation, catering and several discovery activities for individuals or groups such as pottery, tadelakt, cooking classes… all in an environment-friendly setting that highlights local heritage and communities.
To this end, it had already been nominated among 6 projects in the world by the International Responsible Tourism Network of the ITB in Berlin (2011) and obtained several awards and ecolabels such as the Green Key, the ALM Ecology Trophy (2010) and the National Responsible Tourism Trophy from the Ministry of Tourism (2009).
It is regrettable that no official from the Minister of Tourism is present to encourage and congratulate Hassan Aboutayeb for this trophy which has experienced tough competition between different countries and different tourist products. For the ministry, it continues to make noise around Responsible Tourism. Lahcen Haddad’s department should support Aboutayeb and take charge of his trip to London at the WTM. HE is still the only Moroccan, Maghreb and Arab finalist. Too bad, a failure which illustrates once again that the minister’s fine speeches and press briefings are not always followed by the necessary actions. Fortunately, the CRT Agadir SOUSS Massa voluntarily took care of his travel and accommodation in London in order to attend the Trophy presentation, to encourage and assist him.
Also present during the trophy presentation were Youssef Maoun, director of the CRT, two journalists from Agadir, Jamal Boujrad from ONMT London, and other Moroccan professionals from Marrakech and Agadir concerned about the development of Responsible and Sustainable Tourism in our country.
Bravo to Si Hassan Aboutayeb and our warm congratulations for this honor that he brought to Morocco, Agadir and the Souss MAssa Region, in this situation of gloom that tourism is going through. And very good continuation.
It should be remembered, finally, that Mr. Hassan Abouteyab is also President of the rural tourism development network (RDTR), created in May 2011 at the initiative of rural tourism stakeholders in the Souss Massa Draa (SMD) region and thanks to the support of the SMD regional council. The RDTR now brings together more than forty rural accommodation structures and some local tourist associations, notably the PATS (Pays d’Accueils Touristiques).
thrmagazine
