Moroccan tourism sector generates USD 8Bn in 2007

The Moroccan tourism sector has generated some USD 8Bn in 2007 as around 7.45 million tourists visited the north African country, said, here Wednesday, an official at the Moroccan Embassy in Ethiopia, Omar Semmar.

Speaking at the 3rd session on "the economic and social situation in Africa," the Moroccan diplomat gave a sum up overview on the Moroccan experience in tourism sector, noting that since 2001, the kingdom has made tourism a priority sector in its development strategy through the start of an ambitious plan (Plan Azur), the objective of which is to receive 10 million tourists a year by 2010.

Mr.Semmar called for making tourism a priority sector in the economic choices of African countries to diversify their financial resources.

"Tourist activity is a source of receipts in foreign currency for African countries and an economic sector that generates an important capital gain in terms of economy and employment to improve the quality of life of the continent's inhabitants," he said.

The Moroccan diplomat called on the UN Economic Commission for Africa to include in its agenda the development of the tourism sector and provide support and assistance to African countries, tourism a lever for economic development, for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals