Marina Sarruf*
marina.sarruf@anba.com.br
São Paulo – The increase in trade between Brazil and the Arab countries and the growth of tourism in Morocco has generated interest in exchange course agency Sem Destino, which is offering to Brazilians a package so they may learn Arabic and a little about the Moroccan culture. "I believe that the package will attract businessmen and youths of the Arab community," stated the marketing supervisor at the company, Sara Boeck.
This is the first time that the company works with an Arab destination. The opportunity arose with the opening in Morocco of language school Sprachcaffe, an international organisation that is present in over 20 cities in Europe, Asia, North America and South Africa, and which has an agreement with Sem Destino.
The package to Rabat, the capital of the African-Arab country, is for two weeks and includes the Arabic course at Sprachcaffe and accommodation in a family home. "What is nice about this package is that apart from learning at school, you also learn with the family," stated Sara. According to her, students do not need to know basic Arabic to participate in the exchange course. "The school offers several levels, as is the case with English courses," she added. The cost of the package is 580 euros, not including the airfare.
The school in Morocco is located near the centre of the city and also near the beach and offers a library, snack bar, air-conditioned classrooms and an ample garden. Apart from that, as extra-curricular activities, the teachers organise outings to tourist points, like the imperial capitals of Meknes, Marrakech and Fez.
In the first half of this year, Morocco received around 2.85 million tourists, representing an increase of 9% over the same period last year. The main sites visited in the country were Marrakech, Casablanca, Meknes, Fez and Rabat. The government of Morocco intends to attract 10 million tourists a year to the country by 2010.
Over 1,500 students
Sem Destino was established in São Paulo in 1999 and takes over 1,500 students abroad each year. The company offers packages to over 35 countries on all continents. However, according to Sara, the destinations most sought by Brazilians are the ones that offer English courses, like England, Canada and Ireland.
The agency also offers more specific courses, turned to the areas of hotel management, marketing and international business. Apart from courses for youths and adults, the organization also offers medical assistance and air tickets. With three own shops, two in São Paulo (SE Brazil) and one in Porto Alegre (S), the agency also sells through site www.semdestino.com.br.
Contact
Sem Destino
Telephones: (+55 11) 3709-2185 (São Paulo) or (+55 51) 3019-4001 (Porto Alegre)
*Translated by Mark Ament
