Southernmost Agadir has
found great popularity among Western
European investors and is the best-known
seaside resort of Morocco. Although
the region has long had its natural
attributes to make it a popular
tourist destination, more recently
considerable investment has been
made to develop the infrastructure
for large numbers of visitors.
These include the development of
major resorts and stunning new
hotels. Though sun, sand and sea
are always an attraction for holiday
destinations, there are also cultural
attractions nearby and Agadir provides
a good starting point to discover
the cities of Tafraout, Taroudannt
and Tiznit among others.
A bit further north on the coast, Essaouria’s
cosmopolitan ambiance stems
from its mixed heritage of Berber,
Arab, Jewish, Portuguese and
French cultures. Dating back
3000 years, this fortified fishing
village has played a very important
role throughout Moroccan history.
With much of the state investment
going to the larger cities such
as Casablanca, Essaouria has
managed to escape extensive commercial
development and its sweeping
beaches have become popular with
more independent travelers. Well
known for its café society,
the main square adjacent to the
port, Place de L’Indépendence,
is the centre of Essouira’s
community. Seafood lovers have
come to the right place and don’t
miss the local fish auctions
which are great to watch. Surfers
also appreciate the huge waves
and scuba divers enjoy the clear
waters. |
