Morocco, WTO pool forces to promote investment, innovation and digitalization of Tourism

The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism & Handicraft, the Moroccan Society of Tourism Engineering (SMIT) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) signed, on Friday in Marrakech, a partnership agreement for the promotion of investment and digitalization in the tourism sector in Morocco.

The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the thematic session of the 117th Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization on “SMEs and Talents to Transform Tourism”, is part of the continuous efforts made by the Ministry and the SMIT to reinforce the attractiveness of Morocco as a destination and to stimulate high value-added investments in the sector.

The deal was signed by WTO Secretary General Zurab pololikashvili, Minister of Tourism & Handicraft Fatim-Zahra Ammor, and SMIT Director General Imad Barrakad.

WTO Secretary General Zurab pololikashvili stressed the importance of this agreement to promote investment in tourism and the digitalization of Moroccan tourism SMEs, welcoming the choice of Morocco to be the pilot country of the program “Digital Futures” which will accelerate the digitalization of SMEs in tourism and propel the sector.

“This agreement focuses on three main areas, namely: the promotion of tourism investment, innovation and digitalization and finally the support of Moroccan tourism SMEs and will, moreover, strengthen the actions of the Ministry to improve the competitiveness of the destination,” said Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor.

She noted that SMEs weigh 95% of the Moroccan economy and are, therefore, of strategic importance. Tourism SMEs “are a real spearhead for the resilience of our sector and are the subject of several initiatives launched by the Ministry and the SMIT, especially in terms of digitalization,” she said.

“Our country is fully committed to accelerate the digital transformation of tourism SMEs. That is why we are extremely proud that our country has been selected to launch the +Marrakech Call to Action+ which will bring together all member states around the digital transformation of SMEs and the stimulation of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability of the sector,” she added.

SMIT Director General Imad Barrakad on his part said that this agreement aims to promote an inclusive tourism investment of SMEs and start-ups that want to engage in innovation in the tourism product and services, recalling that several programs have been launched in the Kingdom to accompany SMEs throughout their digital transformation process.