The Provincial Tourism Council (CPT) of Ifrane has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to bolster the region’s tourism industry. This announcement was made during a meeting held on the sidelines of the International Festival of Ifrane. The event highlighted the unique opportunities that have arisen from Ifrane being selected as a key site for the joint hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Morocco.
This designation reaffirms Ifrane’s reputation as a prime destination for elite athletes. The city will play a significant role in the World Cup, hosting various related activities, including training camps for participating teams. This presents a unique opportunity for Ifrane to significantly enhance its status on the global sports tourism stage.
Omar Jaïd, President of the CPT of Ifrane, emphasized the importance of the strategic plan designed to create a contractual, coordinated, and participatory framework with various stakeholders at the national, regional, and provincial levels. “Our goal is to establish cooperation agreements to secure and allocate the necessary support to help us fulfill our missions and execute our work program,” Jaïd explained.
He outlined five thematic areas that structure this ambitious program, including the promotion and marketing of Ifrane’s tourism products. This will involve publications, digital initiatives, public relations, participation in tourism fairs, and targeted advertising campaigns aimed at boosting domestic tourism. The strategy also focuses on organizing year-round tourist, artistic, and cultural events to make Ifrane a vibrant destination.
Human capital development is another priority, with plans for continuous training of industry professionals, the establishment of scientific and professional cooperation partnerships to facilitate skill transfer, and the organization of regular thematic meetings to encourage ongoing innovation and reflection.
Jaïd also highlighted Ifrane’s exceptional natural and cultural assets. “We have a forest area of 116,000 hectares, including 48,000 hectares of cedar forest classified as a national natural heritage. Our remarkable biodiversity, water resources, and quality infrastructure make Ifrane an ideal gateway to national parks and a high-level tourist destination,” he noted.
Ifrane’s commitment to ecotourism and sustainable tourism has positioned it as a top destination, earning it the title of the second cleanest city in the world, after Calgary, Canada. The region boasts a diverse array of tourist activities, with over 60 identified geographic and natural sites offering skiing, climbing, fishing, hunting, golf, and birdwatching.
On the infrastructure front, Jaïd noted significant progress, with the number of classified accommodation establishments growing from 22 in 2010 to 75 today, representing 20% of the Fès-Meknès region’s lodging capacity. These establishments offer a total of 3,900 beds and generate approximately 1,300 direct jobs.
Tourist arrivals in 2023 have been encouraging, with 115,463 tourists staying in classified accommodations, marking a 69% increase compared to 2022. The number of overnight stays reached 238,714, up 64% year-over-year.
Jaïd also discussed the significant investments underway and planned for the tourism sector. These include the creation of nine new accommodation units in 2023, representing an investment of 233.67 million dirhams, along with 26 projects currently in progress and 13 in the study phase.
Among the major projects, Jaïd highlighted the “Development and Promotion of Ecotourism in Ifrane National Park” program, with a budget of 734 million dirhams. Other key initiatives include the creation of an amusement park, the landscaping of the Val d’Ifrane, the enhancement of Lake Dayet Aoua, and the development of equestrian tourism.
This meeting underscored Ifrane’s exceptional potential as a leading tourist destination, combining unspoiled nature, high-quality infrastructure, and a diverse array of activities.
