Morocco, The New Holiday Destination - An Introduction For the First Time Visitor

For many people Morocco conjures up a picturesuch as airports, shipping ports and highways. With
of deserts, raids, haggling in the markets anda relaxed and moderate approach it has set up a
perhaps the odd camel or two! But there arenumber of designated tourist zones whereby the
many facets to this increasingly popularfacilities are equal and in many cases better than
destination making it a wonderful place to visit orsome similar resorts found in other countries.
take a holiday.This, along with a population that is both friendly
Last year alone Morocco attracted 7.5 millionand eager to make progress, makes visiting
tourists- well on the way to achieving its target ofMorocco that much more pleasurable than is
10 million by the year 2010. But why are millionssometimes the case in countries where locals are
visiting a country and willing to holiday in a countryjaded and tourist weary.
situated on the northern tip of Africa rather thanGeographically, Morocco, for the first time visitor
the established European holiday destinations suchis surprisingly full of contrasts. While the south,
as France or Spain?dominated by the Atlas Mountains, confirms the
Well, for many Europeans, Morocco is the nearestgeneral image of dry and desert landscapes, the
exotic African destination- taking only two andnorth of Morocco is green and lush with parts of
half hours to fly from London and an hour fromthe Mediterranean coastline almost resembling
Madrid. Once de rigueur destination for those onparts of the UK - but with the added attraction of
the hippy trail, Morocco has become a place forblue skies and warm temperatures all year round!
the traveller and holidaymaker who demandAnd this is why North Morocco can provide a
something more than the average from their hardgreat initial introduction to this beautiful country
earned vacation.and its culture for the first time visitor.
One of its many appealing factors is that it boastsBecause of its proximity to Europe, (the smallest
thousands of miles of beautiful coastline anddistance between Morocco's coastline and Spain's
beaches on two sea fronts, the Mediterraneanis less than ten miles) and the influences that has
and the Atlantic. This, along with all year round sunresulted, this area with cosmopolitan Tangiers and
(temperatures can reach up to 17 degreesthe northern capital of Tetouan all relatively close,
centigrade in January and February) make it ais a heady mix of the exotic and the familiar.
perfect destination for sun seeker and thoseThese factors alone will almost certainly whet the
seeking a relaxing break.appetite for future and perhaps more
The Moroccan government is taking tourism veryadventurous exploring of this wonderfully varied
seriously and has poured billions into infrastructurecountry!