What is the secret of the influx of football stars to Marrakech - Morocco?
A group of international football stars chose the Moroccan city of Marrakesh as a destination to spend part of their annual vacation, and as a place to rest and relax before resuming their training in preparation for the upcoming football season, which is full of competitions.
Recently, Moroccan and international football stars from the most famous clubs and the most powerful leagues, especially European, have flocked to the “red” city.
This year, Kylian Mbappe, the French star of Paris Saint-Germain, and his colleague in the Moroccan international team, Ashraf Hakimi, and Riyad Mahrez, the Chelsea star and the Desert Warriors (Algerian national team), Eduardo Camavinga, the average of the Spanish club Real Madrid, and other international football stars have snatched the spotlight.
The city, which is the capital of tourism in the Kingdom, was famous for receiving the most prominent celebrities in the fields of politics, art and sports in the world, and for becoming one of their favorite destinations for spending their holidays and seasonal holidays or celebrating their special occasions.
Over the past two years, the city that bears more than one title, such as the Red City, the Palm Capital or the City of Al-Bahja, has witnessed a kind of stagnation, due to the impact of the activity of the tourism sector, which is one of the pillars of its economy, by the repercussions of the Corona virus.
world famous destination
A number of workers in the tourism sector in Morocco believe that the choice of international football stars for Marrakech to spend the summer vacation, whom millions follow on social media, is a tourism promotion factor for the destination of the Kingdom in general and for the Red City in particular, and a catalyst for attracting more tourists from different parts of the world. .
Fawzi Al-Zamrani, the tourism operator in Marrakesh, says that the influx of football stars to the capital of palm trees is not a new phenomenon, and that many names have been visiting the city annually, considering that the “Marrakech Laughter” festival has contributed to pushing many football stars and celebrities. International visitors to attend his shows and visit Marrakesh, at the invitation of Moroccan-French comedian Jamal Debbouze.
Al-Zamrani added, in a statement to Sky News Arabia, that Marrakech was able, thanks to its charm, to impose itself strongly as a global tourist destination, frequented by international stars and an increasing number of tourists, part of whom decided to settle in it permanently.
The spokesman added that Marrakesh, which is considered the tourism front of the Kingdom par excellence, has a special character that distinguishes it from other international destinations, making it a destination for tourism for the most prominent football stars.
The tourist actor pointed out that as soon as Morocco announced the opening of its borders after about two years of closure due to the outbreak of the Corona virus, the influx of tourists to the city began intensively, accompanied by an influx of football stars looking to enjoy its unique atmosphere.
There are many factors that push international football stars to visit the “palm” capital, most notably, according to the tourism sector professional, its moderate weather and its embrace of hotel facilities with international specifications, as well as the nature of its traditional Moroccan Andalusian architecture, in addition to the reception of celebrities of Moroccan origin to international stars by virtue of the friendship relations that combine between them.
The city includes a group of world-famous tourist places that are visited by visitors from different countries of the world, most notably Jemaa El-Fna Square, Majourel Gardens, Koutoubia Mosque, El Badi Palace and others.
Abdelhak Belkhadir, head of the Association of Merchants and Craftsmen of the new market in Jamaâ El Fna Square, says that the influx of football stars, whether Moroccan professionals abroad or from other nationalities, to Marrakesh is an important promotion for tourism in the Kingdom.
In a statement to Sky News Arabia, Belkhadir confirms that many of the football stars who are currently in Marrakesh have been identified by citizens, as they are wandering around the Jamaâ El Fna square and the surrounding markets.
The spokesman pointed out that Marrakesh's success in attracting tourists is mainly due to its availability of enormous qualifications, noting that the city has been witnessing a remarkable development, especially during the last ten years and in conjunction with the launch of the vision of 2020 to reach 20 million tourists, and the city has gained thanks to its hotel structures, resorts and markets. The old city, an international fame that was reinforced by the fame of Moroccan cuisine and the desire to taste its world-famous dishes.
Belkhadir stresses that among the reasons that motivate famous people to visit Marrakesh frequently, the good reception and hospitality, simplicity in dealing and openness of Moroccans to different cultures.
Ronaldo invests in the red city
In addition to celebrities visiting Marrakesh for tourism and enjoying its charming atmosphere, some personalities from the world of politics, art, culture and sports, decided to invest in it, led by world football star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Pictures of the Manchester United star are spread on social media, during his repeated visits to Marrakesh, whether with his family members or with his friends, as he has friendships with a number of Moroccan celebrities, most notably Badr Hari, the Moroccan champion in kickboxing, and Moroccan Anas Ouzifi, an agent. The work of a number of athletes.
The Portuguese star's love for the "red" city led him to choose the first hotel of its kind on the African continent and the fifth in a chain of luxury hotels he owns in a number of cities around the world.
Regarding his choice of Marrakesh, Ronaldo said in a speech on the group’s official website: “Marrakesh was the fifth city, but apart from the numbers, there is a connection between me and Morocco and I am very excited about it, I feel welcome there.”