Ouarzazate Unveils 820 Million Dirham Plan for Sustainable Cultural Tourism

The Ministry of Tourism announced on Monday the deployment of an ambitious acceleration plan aimed at making Ouarzazate a benchmark destination for sustainable cultural tourism, with a mobilized budget of 820 million dirhams (MDH).

The 2023–2026 plan boosts hotels, cultural attractions, and air connectivity to position Ouarzazate as a leading sustainable tourism destination

“As part of the 2023-2026 tourism roadmap, several structuring actions are currently underway, organized around three axes, namely the strengthening of accommodation and the development of entertainment for which a total budget of 820 MDH has been mobilized, as well as the improvement of air connectivity,” the department of Fatim-Zahra Ammor indicated this Monday.

Thus, a vast rehabilitation program is underway to modernize and strengthen the hotel portfolio, explains the same source. Nine strategic hotels, closed for several years, have found buyers, and two of them (the Karam Residence and the Amanar Hotel) have already reopened, marking a tangible sign of recovery. This plan will allow the addition of nearly 1,800 additional beds.

At the same time, an operation to upgrade 75 establishments was launched with the authorities in order to classify 1,400 additional beds. The acceleration plan also includes two major structuring projects intended to diversify the cultural and entertainment offerings. Jamaâ Al Fna Square and Kasbah Taourirt Square in Ouarzazate, currently undergoing renovation, will host modern spaces dedicated to culture, heritage, and conviviality from the end of 2025, with the first cultural entertainment events scheduled from this month 2025.

In Ksar Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, two iconic squares will also be developed to host exhibitions and cultural events. Calls for tenders for these developments have already been launched, with an opening planned for the second half of 2026. In addition, the Go Siyaha program is currently supporting 35 innovative projects in the region, ranging from authentic accommodation to immersive cultural experiences.

In terms of air connectivity, the Ouarzazate-London route and the increase in capacity from France and Spain have enabled a 33% increase in the number of seats compared to 2019. Several other routes are currently being studied to further improve the destination’s accessibility.

The initial results of this plan are already being felt: by the end of August 2025, arrivals at Ouarzazate airport will have increased by 34% compared to 2019, the press release states. The most significant effects should be observed from 2026, once all ongoing projects are completed.

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(Featured image by roberto_bellasio via Pixabay)

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First published in LES ECO.ma. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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