The Morocco destination is more efficient than ever. The figures are, in fact, edifying. The Ministry of Tourism, Crafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy affirms in this sense that 2023 promises to be “a year of rupture” for Moroccan tourism, displaying double-digit growth. Indeed, the evolution of tourist arrivals in Morocco is experiencing a remarkable boom during the start of the year with 5.1 million tourist arrivals at the end of May 2023, i.e. a growth of 20% compared to the same period of 2019, specifies the ministry in a press release, recalling that the year 2019 is considered, until then, as the reference year for the sector. The month of May, for its part, stands out for record growth of 55% with 1.1 million arrivals compared to 2019, adds the ministry. This trend has a positive impact on tourism revenues which in turn reached 32 billion dirhams at the end of April 2023, i.e. 40% more than 2019. Several major source markets are driving this growth, notably the Spanish, British, Israeli and Italian markets which recorded respective growth of 46, 29, 158 and 10%. Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism, Crafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, underlined in this sense: “We are very proud of these achievements which are the result of the emergency plan of 2 billion dirhams that the government has put in place to support professionals in 2022 and allow them in particular to upgrade the hotel offer, to the numerous offensive actions that we are carrying out in terms of aviation, promotion and referencing of Morocco among major tour operators, as well as the dynamism of operators in the sector. Without forgetting of course the exploit of the Atlas Lions which propelled our country to the forefront of the international scene. Decree Furthermore, the Government Council adopted, on Thursday, draft decree No. 2.23.441 establishing certain provisions of Law No. 80.14 relating to tourist establishments and other forms of tourist accommodation. Presented by the Minister of Tourism, Crafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, this text is part of the reform of the legal framework for tourist accommodation and which resulted in the publication in the Official Bulletin of Law No. 80.14, indicated the Minister Delegate in charge of relations with Parliament, government spokesperson, Mustapha Baïtas, during a press briefing held at the end of the weekly meeting of the Government Council. This draft decree, he maintained, defines the administrative procedures relating to the opening and operation of tourist establishments, in accordance with the principles of strengthening the specialization of administrations and their attributions, the orientations of advanced regionalization and the revision of the procedure for granting licenses and classification requests. This text includes a set of provisions establishing the administrative procedures relating to tourist establishments and their operation and requires obtaining the operating license before the opening to the public of any tourist accommodation establishment, while putting in place a new classification approach allowing a better understanding of the quality of service provided, explained Mr. Baitas, noting that the project also defines the modalities of control and renewal of the operating classification of tourist accommodation establishments, granting of the operating license for tourist residences. tourism and classification of tourist restaurants, after advice from the Unified Regional Investment Commission. And to add that the project also defines the terms of granting licenses for the operation of other forms of tourist accommodation, such as bivouacs, homestay accommodation and alternative accommodation, requiring authorization from local authorities, after advice from the services concerned and on the basis of compliance with their specifications. Standards By revising the legal framework, the government is continuing its effort to upgrade the sector overall. A few months ago, the government approved draft decree No. 2.22.867 relating to the general organization of construction specifying the construction standards for tourist accommodation establishments in addition to the establishment of the National Commission for Construction Standards for Tourist Accommodation Establishments. This draft decree was presented by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of National Territorial Planning, Town Planning, Housing and Urban Policy. This project is part of the reform project of the legal framework for tourist accommodation, which was strengthened by the promulgation of Law No. 80.14 relating to tourist establishments and other forms of tourist accommodation. Thus, the draft decree aims to simplify the administrative procedures linked to the granting of classification by merging the provisional technical classification provided for by Law No. 61.00 as the basic regime for tourist establishments with the procedure for issuing the building permit provided for in the legislative and regulatory texts relating to town planning. It is also a question of fighting against establishments operating in the informal sector by ensuring that investors can build their establishments in accordance with the standards provided for by the new legal framework adopted.
source: dhui.ma
