São Paulo – People passing through Paulista Avenue in São Paulo next week will have a chance to become familiar with Moroccan culture. The North African country’s National Tourist Office is holding the event Marrocos, o despertar dos sentidos (Morocco, the awakening of senses) from Monday (23rd) to Sunday (29th). Several Moroccan costumes will be shown to the public.
“Our goal is introduce Brazilians to Morocco as a travel destination by displaying our culture, the beauties of our country, our handicraft,” said to ANBA the joint director of Tourism for Portugal and Brazil, Fouad Bouchama.
Some of the key elements of Moroccan culture will be represented at the event. People will be able to get henna tattoos, a calligrapher will showcase Arabic writing, and the folk music group El Mesaaoudi will perform.
The Moroccan week will also feature a parade of kaftan dresses (typical attire) and a photo exhibit. An artisan will be working live.
This is not the National Tourist Office’s first action in Brazil. It has taken journalists and tour operators to Morocco in the past, and it attended two industry shows in São Paulo this year.
More Brazilians
According to the Office, 22,000 Brazilians travelled to Morocco last year; according to Bouchama, there could be a 25% increase by the end of this year.
He says the drivers of growth include promotional action and the non-stop Casablanca-São Paulo flight flown three times a week by the carrier Royal Air Maroc. Morocco welcomes in excess of 11 million tourists a year, mostly hailing from European countries.
Bouchama also claims that Brazilian tourists in Morocco usually look to delve deep into local culture. “Cultural tourism is their favorite, and we will showcase it [during the Moroccan week]. Besides the imperial cities (Rabat, Fez, Marrakech and Meknès), Brazilians also like to go to the desert,” the executive explained.
Morocco, the awakening of the senses
November 23rd to 29th
From 10am to 7pm
Where: Conjunto Nacional, Avenida Paulista, 2.073, São Paulo – São Paulo
Free admission
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
