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

For many people Morocco conjures up a picture of deserts, raids, haggling in the markets and perhaps the odd camel or two! But there are many facets to this increasingly popular destination making it a wonderful place to visit or take a holiday.

Last year alone Morocco attracted 7.5 million tourists- well on the way to achieving its target of 10 million by the year 2010. But why are millions visiting a country and willing to holiday in a country situated on the northern tip of Africa rather than the established European holiday destinations such as France or Spain?

Well, for many Europeans, Morocco is the nearest exotic African destination- taking only two and half hours to fly from London and an hour from Madrid. Once de rigueur destination for those on the hippy trail, Morocco has become a place for the traveller and holidaymaker who demand something more than the average from their hard earned vacation.
One of its many appealing factors is that it boasts thousands of miles of beautiful coastline and beaches on two sea fronts, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This, along with all year round sun (temperatures can reach up to 17 degrees centigrade in January and February) make it a perfect destination for sun seeker and those seeking a relaxing break.

The Moroccan government is taking tourism very seriously and has poured billions into infrastructure such as airports, shipping ports and highways. With a relaxed and moderate approach it has set up a number of designated tourist zones whereby the facilities are equal and in many cases better than some similar resorts found in other countries.

This, along with a population that is both friendly and eager to make progress, makes visiting Morocco that much more pleasurable than is sometimes the case in countries where locals are jaded and tourist weary.

Geographically, Morocco, for the first time visitor is surprisingly full of contrasts. While the south, dominated by the Atlas Mountains, confirms the general image of dry and desert landscapes, the north of Morocco is green and lush with parts of the Mediterranean coastline almost resembling parts of the UK - but with the added attraction of blue skies and warm temperatures all year round! And this is why North Morocco can provide a great initial introduction to this beautiful country and its culture for the first time visitor.

Because of its proximity to Europe, (the smallest distance between Morocco's coastline and Spain's is less than ten miles) and the influences that has resulted, this area with cosmopolitan Tangiers and the northern capital of Tetouan all relatively close, is a heady mix of the exotic and the familiar. These factors alone will almost certainly whet the appetite for future and perhaps more adventurous exploring of this wonderfully varied country