Sahara

Tourism in the Moroccan Sahara is a growth industry and could easily play the role of a real locomotive for economic and social development.

The southern provinces of the Kingdom indeed offer a fabulous tourist landscape, but not yet exploited. The assets available to this region, famous for its centuries-old traditions of hospitality abound.

But it is his proximity to Canary offering him a distinct advantage Islands. With natural landscapes varied, ranging from sand dunes to the beaches of exceptional beauty (1700 km of coastline), the region's premier ready Saharan tourism.

Only for now, tourism in southern provinces is still limited to business tourism, accounting for 85% of tourism activity.

  Region Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
This province has 37 hotel establishments whose overall accommodation capacity amounts to 1044 rooms, 26 suites and 45 bungalows. Making a total of 2,074 beds.

At present, the activity of travel agencies on site remains confined to the allure of an insufficient number of tourists mainly from the Canary Islands for visits not exceeding the day or even hours.

However, professionals recommend measures allowing you to take tourism to a level that is equal to the potential of the region. These measures are cited building advertising campaigns and recruitment of qualified personnel in hotels and research funding resources.

Recognizing this fact, the ministry has developed a long-term strategy by identifying several sites that could be integrated into real tours. Among those cited: Laayoune Beach, Lagoon Khnifiss, Oasis and Lamseid Sebkhat Tah.

Meanwhile, the region continues to feel the rhythm of some tourist events such as the economic and tourism week Sakia El Hamra Laayoune, the Air Rallye Toulouse, Tarfaya, St. Louis, Raid Evasion Morocco. Demonstrations once revalued, would be likely to attract more visitors to the region.

Province Guelmim-Smara
Despite the importance of this potential for this region, tourism remains underdeveloped. The province has 12 hotels with 289 rooms unclassified and a capacity of 459 beds.
In 2005, slightly more than 20,000 tourists (including 762 foreigners) visited this province, realizing 28,205 overnight stays. Of tourist and religious interest have already been identified: Zaouias Sidi Ahmed Rguibi Sheikh Maalainnine, Sidi Ahmed Laaroussi Lhaj Hmer Lahiya, Sidi Ahmed Oumoussa, rock engravings and Aassli Miran Saqiet Oued El Hamra