Morocco to build leisure port in Saharan city of Dakhla

The city of Dakhla, the pearl of Southern Morocco, will have its own leisure port to enhance its attractiveness for tourists and investors and foster its connections with the Canary Islands.

Morocco’s ports authority (ANP) has invited consultancy firms to submit feasibility study bids for building such a port to offer diverse range of leisure and associated activities including recreational sailing, power boating, water sports, windsurfing, kite-surfing…

The Moroccan government has launched a number of development projects aimed at improving the infrastructure and boosting tourism in Dakhla.

The current Dakhla port is the only maritime gateway to the Dakhla Ouad Eddahab region. It is home to fishing and commercial activities (including hydrocarbons and frozen fish) and other related activities. Its 400 km-sq bay is its biggest asset.

According to some experts, the port can become a major competitive and more popular tourist hub. This project comes one month after the construction works of the Dakhla Atlantic port were launched in line with the guidelines of King Mohammed VI.

The new Dakhla Atlantic Port, to cost about $1 billion, is expected to create 183,000 jobs by 2030 and a gateway for trade with Africa and Latin America. These projects are part of the country’s socioeconomic development plans for the southern provinces and the 2030 National Ports strategy.

The world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, Intrepid Travel, has lately listed Dakhla in its annual “Not Hot” list as one of the world’s most underrated destinations to visit in 2020.

The Australian travel company’s “Not Hot” list aims to inform travellers about emerging lesser-known destinations.

Intrepid encourages tourists to travel to Dakhla by offering a trip that includes Marrakech and Dakhla for those seeking an adventure.

Dakhla’s white sand dunes, crystal clear beaches, and renowned seafood are reasons mentioned by the travel company as to why Dakhla is a destination to consider for upcoming holidays. The company also mentions the hospitality of the locals and the beautiful Sahara Desert.

Morocco also secured a top 10 spot on Intrepid’s list of the best travel destinations.

Dakhla, known by many as a paradise for kitesurfing, is progressively establishing itself as a well-known tourist destination, the company said.