JEDDAH, 28 May — Tangier, a summer resort, was the highlight of a presentation conducted by the Moroccan National Tourist Office, Ministry of Tourism, here last week.
Moroccan Consul General Abdelkamel Dinia said the focus on Tangier, that lies on the Straits of Gibraltar, between two oceans and two continents, was timely. “With the travel season approaching, vacationers from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region should find Tangier, the summer capital of Morocco, an ideal location to enjoy.”
Asked about visa regulations, Dinia told Arab News: “Saudis don’t need a visa, but expatriates do need one and that depends on the nationality they belong to.” Mohamed Boulaghlagh, director of the Moroccan Government Tourist Office, said living in Tangier centuries ago was barely confined to the ancient city ramparts and it was only in the 1920s that one could witness the town expanding and spreading outward. “It is now a tourist resort and being increasingly visited by Arabs and Westerners,” he said and hoped that Tangier would be a popular destination for Saudi families this time, as they were not inclined to travel to the West.
Mustapha El Broji, general manager of Royal Air Maroc for Saudi Arabia and Yemen, gave an overview of the national carrier’s summer timetable. “We have regular and convenient schedules from Jeddah and Riyadh to Casablanca, Agadir, Marakesh, Tangier and Fez,” he said.
An audiovisual show held on Tangier and other resort places gave a glimpse of archeological museums as well as of arts and traditions in Tangier and other parts of the country. A museum of Islamic art is due to open in Casablanca. The country’s rich traditions can be seen in a range of crafts and skills such as woodcarving, leather, silver filigree, ceramics, weaving, pottery and fabrics. Aside from sports and leisure activities, there are several game reserves with opportunities for hunting and fishing.
Horse riding is quite common in Tangier and many other places. Water sports abound on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, including sailing, windsurfing, surfing, water-skiing, yachting, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. Tangier and other parts of the country are a paradise for explorers, whether on foot, mountain bike or skis, or on a mule or in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Tangier is among the selected places where golf enthusiasts can enjoy excellent courses.
Participating in the program was a delegation of Tangier’s hospitality industry. They included Samira Ktiri, commercial director of Movenkpick Hotel, Mohamed El Bahja, director of Hotel Sheherazade, Brahim Hamdaoui, director of Chella Hotel & Beach Club, Hamid Masror, director general of Hotel Lazur, Mounir Benkirane, manager of Hotel Inter.Continental, Karim Raihani of Restaurant Raihani, and Abdelmajid Benjelloun, president of Viajes Flandria s.a.r.l. El Minzah Hotel announced attractive family packages for the upcoming season ranging from 700 dirhams to 5,100 dirhams depending on its rooms and suites that face the street, sea, pool, courtyard, etc.
