Morocco has been named as this year’s ‘African Tourism Destination of the Year’, which is awarded annually at the African Business Awards organised by African Business magazine and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC).

Recognised as a nation that has been innovative and proactive in mobilising its tourism industry, Morocco has shown that African nations are capable of pioneering success for their own economies.

One such initiative is the government’s Vision 2010 Tourism Strategy – which aims to invigorate global travel to Morocco and attract an estimated 10 million visitors by 2010. Known as Plan Azur, the programme’s primary purpose is to develop six new purpose built resorts with an overall bed capacity of 85,000 in hotels and 35,000 beds in properties, the first of which, Mediterrania-Saidia opened last month. The second resort, Mazagan being developed by Sol Kerzner is set to open in October 2009.

Plan Azur will see the creation of exquisite resorts that value local heritage, both in terms of culture and the environment, all whilst providing economic stimulus to the region and firmly putting the Moroccan Riveria on the map.

Mr Ali El Kasmi, Director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office UK says, “We are delighted to have won such an accolade. Morocco offers a quality product and a cultural destination full of energy, mysticism and spice.”

Morocco is a real opportunity for travellers, offering an authentic cultural experience that has the added advantage of being within a 3 hour flight from the UK, plus year-round sunshine. It is also outside the Eurozone which is good news for holidaymakers seeking greater value from their spending money, particularly in this economic climate.