Morocco
Morocco
Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. It is a photographer’s dream location with its vibrant and lavish use of blues and colours!
Marrakesh’s medina, a mazelike medieval quarter, offers options for entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks (marketplaces) selling traditional ceramics, colored jewelry and ornate metal lanterns. Might we add that haggling with street vendors is just as much a part of the Moroccan culture as the traditional ceramics are?
Culture:
Morocco’s culture is a m letting pot of Arabic, Roman, French, Spanish and South African influences. Morocco as a country is stranded between the past and present and elements of historic influences can be found on every street corner even today! Vivacious colors beads and diversity are some of the key words that come to mind when thinking of Moroccan culture!
Moroccan music is also a delightful combination of numerous traditional instruments bearing the mark of other regions. The flute and variations thereof like the shwam and the zither are popular in most areas and can be heard in many folk songs and dances.
Food
Moroccan cuisine varies regionally with local influences reflecting in the food too! It is usually well cooked and immeasurably detailed. Moroccans take their spices very seriously and they must be used in the right way to procure the greatest flavor out of them! Cumin, oregano, caraway, and mint are the most commonly used spices. The dishes themselves are an amalgamation of different cuisines that passed the regions historically and are hence a mixture of Arabic, Mediterranean, and Andalusian cuisine with some European influence. You will find Mediterranean fruits and vegetables and meat at the heart of the cuisine. Couscous made up of crushed durum wheat semolina is the staple food all over Morocco! Harira and tanjia are also popular dishes, though green tea is regarded as a tradition in itself! Made with mint, green tea signifies communal spaces and sitting together as family units. The tea is put in special teapots which allow it to be poured evenly into tiny glasses from a height.
Moroccan Art
Moroccan art can be identified from afar. Moroccan doors and archways feature carvings and their carpets are splattered with a wide range of colors. The art style has been influenced by other cultures and nations over the years much like all other aspects of the Moroccan society. The modern Moroccan art has also been heavily inspired by the traditional Berber art and Islamic impact of the Arabs. One of the most popular mosaic styles is the Islamic Kellij which begun flourishing in the 14th century. Most of the houses were decorated with Kellij to denote class and status!
Attractions:
Morocco is a world within itself offering history and art on a platter to tourists. Attractions include exotic snake charmers and conjurers, souks loaded to the top with local treasures and endless glasses of the famous mint tea. Perched between a desert and the mountains Morocco is unique in every way possible! Apart from this the remote villages and hill sides are dotted with forts and the coastal villages offer tranquility like nowhere else!
Since the tourism industry has long been contributing heavily to the economy, alongside the automotive industry, phosphates and agriculture. Imad Barrakad, CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), spoke to World Finance about how Morocco plans to continue growing its tourism industry in a sustainable manner by attracting new investment.
Role in International Tourism and Travel:
The Ministry of Tourism of Morocco develops and implements the tourism policy for the government through the Department of Tourism.The budget for the Ministry of Tourism comes from the central budget and totalled MAD 860 million in 2019 and has been increased by about 41% compared to 2018. It is divided between the entities under the Ministry’s responsibility: Central Administration, regional and provincial delegations (39%); Moroccan National Tourist Office (35%); the Moroccan Society for Tourism Engineering (19%); and, training schools (7%).
Since the tourism industry has long been contributing heavily to the economy, alongside the automotive industry, phosphates and agriculture. Imad Barrakad, CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), spoke to World Finance about how Morocco plans to continue growing its tourism industry in a sustainable manner by attracting new investment.
High Season:
High season is July and August when many Europeans take their vacation. The best time to visit would be spring or fall, when the temp is more comfortable, and there are fewer tourists.
Best Season:
The best time to visit Morocco is during spring (mid-March to May) or autumn (September to October). The weather is warm but pleasant, unlike the cold temperatures and snow of winter, or the scorching heat of summer. The coastal regions can be visited year-round.
Success stories of women from Morocco
Touria Chaoui
The prodigy pilot
Hailing from the regal city of Fez in 1936, Touria Chaoui was the first Moroccan and Arab woman to become a pilot at the unbelievable age of 15. Her family moved from Fez to Casablanca, where her father enrolled her in an aviation school reserved for the supreme French elite of the time. The school made it a point to show that it was not happy having the first Moroccan woman in its midst but Touria Chaoui worked hard to prove her point and obtained her aviation license soon, winning recognition in times of uncertainty by the whole country!
Moroccan Dirham
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