São Paulo – Morocco, an Arab nation in Africa, was among the top ten of exotic destinations in number of tourists received by Brazilian tour operator CVC in the last four years. Two years ago, Morocco occupied the top spot in this ranking, according to information released by the company, which, in August, launched new tour packages to the country.
The tour operator doesn’t release all the details about this list of exotic places, but says that among the destinations that fit this profile are the United Arab Emirates, Israel, China, Japan, French Polynesia, Jordan, Australia, India, Thailand, New Zealand and South Africa. The company says that Morocco is being recognized in Brazil due to promotional actions.
“Morocco attracts Brazilians because of the curiosity to know the culture up close, the receptiveness of the Moroccan people, the contrast between beaches, deserts and snowcapped peaks and, of course, local historical buildings, architecture and craft works”, said the senior manager of Europe, Circuits and Exotic products in CVC, Marcello Patelli, according to a press release by the company.
According to data from the Moroccan National Tourist Office, released by CVC, Morocco welcomed 28,000 Brazilians last year and these visits increase 35% annually. The estimation made by the Moroccan official tourism body shows that the Arab country will, in two years, receive 50,000 Brazilian tourists. CVC says that its numbers follow this growth.
The tour packages launched in August are “Morocco Imperial Cities”, “Brazilians in Morocco” and “Grand Tour throughout Morocco”. The latter is a new one and the first two were overhauled and re-launched. The first one lasts eight days and includes trips to the cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Beni-Mellal and Marrakesh. The tours has visits to royal palaces, the outside of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis, the Medieval City of Fez, among other attractions. Imperial cities are the cities that served as capitals of ancient dynasties such as Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat and Meknes.
The package “Grand Tour throughout Morocco”, which lasts 12 days, includes more cities than the first package: Essaouira, El Jadida, Ouarzazate and Zagora. Besides the traditional tourist spots such as the local and colorful markets, the tour has visits to the Draa Valley, in the Sahara desert, with its rivers, palm trees, mountains and villages; to a Koranic bookstore with ancient books and documents; to Berber villages; and stops to watch the sunrise from the top of the dunes.
The package “Brazilians in Morocco”, which also lasts 12 days, takes the tourist to Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Beni-Mellal, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Nkob, Tazzarine, Erfoud and Tinghir. It also has visits to markets, palaces, squares, residential neighborhoods, mosques, ruins and sacred cities. In Marrakesh, among the attractions, the Berber village of Azrou with its craftworks cooperative, the Menara gardens, with its set of vegetable and fruit gardens, and a folklore presentation at the Chez Ali restaurant.
Service
Morocco Imperial Cities
Package with eight days/seven nights
Starting at R$ 2.914,90 (US$ 749,34)
Ground only – transfer, hotel, tours
Grand Tour Morocco
Package with 12 days/11 nights
Starting at R$ 5.041,30 (US$ 1,295.98)
Ground only – transfer, hotel, tours
Brazilians in Morocco
Package with 11 days/10 nights
Starting at R$ 5.174,20 (US$ 1,330.14)
Ground only – transfer, hotel, tours
Further information:
www.cvc.com.br
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
