The Moroccan Tourism Engineering Company (SMIT) wants to transform the Drâa Tafilalet region into a flagship destination for ecotourism in Morocco, through the implementation of an ambitious program worth around 1.7 billion dirhams.
The Drâa Tafilalet region will establish itself in oasis ecotourism. During the Development and Solidarity Council held on Thursday, July 17 in Rabat, dedicated to the theme “Morocco of the territories: Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity, the example of the Draa-Tafilalet Region”, Imad Barrakad, president of SMIT announced the implementation of an ambitious program of approximately 1.7 billion dirhams. It is part of a positioning strategy focused on the “Desert & Oasis Adventure” sector developed by SMIT and its partners. Their ambition is to make Drâa
Tafilalet is a beacon of ecotourism in Morocco.
This program includes several key components, including the improvement of air transport infrastructure to better adapt supply to demand and make the region more accessible,
and the prioritization of efforts and investments to maximize the impact of projects. It is also planned to improve the quality of the tourist offer, by strengthening services and infrastructure. Not to mention the regulation, control, and professionalization of destination management.
For effective implementation of the program, it is planned to create a Regional Development Company (SDR) dedicated to tourism “Oasis Tafilalet” where the SMIT, the supervisory ministry, and the regional council will sit. This organization will supervise the implementation of public projects in line with local priorities. These projects will integrate multiple tourist offers, including hiking and excursions in the desert and oases. This initiative will be supported by three main financial strategies, underline the SMIT.
What about the three levers of tourism product development? An investment of 515 million dirhams (50 million euros) will be devoted to modernizing and expanding the tourist accommodation offer. This will involve renovating existing facilities, developing charming hotels, and creating alternative rural accommodation, as well as creating a green resort in Isli and Tislite. To strengthen the attractiveness of the region, an envelope of 732 million dirhams (68 million euros) will be dedicated to improving tourist readability through directional and interpretative signage, as well as the tourist development of popular sites such as the Todgha Gorges, the Dades Gorges, and the Sijilmassa site. As for the entertainment component, 429 million dirhams (40 million euros) will be allocated to finance the renovation of tourist sites and experiences.
