Tourism: cancellations since the attack in Marrakech


Tourism: 15,000 cancellations since the attack of 28 April in Marrakech
Marrakech: Baisses inquiétantes pour le tourisme
The attack will force Marrakech tourism professionals to review their calculations. It is still "very early" to take stock of course, but thousands of tourists have canceled their trip. The French, more likely to visit Morocco to say less tempted to spend their holidays in some Arab countries, including the kingdom.

Difficult to accept, but the attack in Marrakesh risk of carrying a heavy blow to the tourism industry in Morocco. Not less than 15 000 tourists, representing 3% of the total, have already canceled their stay in Morocco, due to the attack of 28 April stated that the Tourism Minister Yassir Znagui, quoted by Reuters. In different hotels of the ocher city, these cancellations are confirmed. As at Riad Orchidé, where we talk "a lot" of withdrawals holiday "because of the attack." At Riad Iaazan always in Marrakech, managers say they have not yet experienced withdrawal.
Confidence
Regional Centre for Tourism Marrakech, confidence still remains the watchword: "It is very early to make an assessment. We need at least three weeks in order to assess the real impact of the attack on the tourist activity in the city, which continues its normal course until now, "said Abdellatif Abouricha, Head of Communications of the Centre. Before the attack, the attendance was up 10% compared to the previous year, but "the strength of the sector will be put to the test this year," admits his part by the Minister of Tourism.
Growth of 8%
One area tested, but can still give good results: "The data we have so far and the response we have developed makes us confident about the outlook for the sector (...) growth of 8 % of revenue in 2011 is possible on the basis of what we see today, "predicts Znagui. Its industry directly employs 450,000 people and accounts for 10% of the gross domestic product of Morocco. Marrakech and Agadir performing alone, 62% of Moroccan nights.
Effort, it will take tourism professionals to attract more foreign customers, especially the French. They represent 32% of Moroccan nights. Only 90% of them say, in a survey (conducted from April 6 to 12, before the bombing of Marrakech), neglecting popular destinations such as Egypt, Tunisia, but also Morocco. No need to look further, the "Arab Spring" has been there.


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Timitar Music Festival in Agadir


Timitar Music Festival in Agadir
 2012 Concert for Tolerance in Agadir Programme, photos, videos, Concert for Tolerance is an event that brings together leading national and international artists each year on the beach in Agadir.
Date Concert for Tolerance 2012 Agadir: This 7th edition will take place on October 6 from 20:30 as usual on the beach in Agadir, close to the marina.
  This event is intended to represent the Peace, Love, Tolerance, and Fraternity in the world. This is sponsored by renowned chains such as 2M, France 2 and TV5, M6 and promoters of tourism regions.
  in the program: Here is the list of artists participating in the Concert for Tolerance 2012: Baptiste Giabiconi, Colonel Reyel, DJ Mam's, Enrico Macias, Garou, Jenifer, Jessy Matador, Pascal Obispo, Tryo, Vigon, Youssoupha, John Mamann, Julian Perratta, Khaled, La Compagnie Creole Louisy Joseph, M. Pokora, Nossa
Travel To Morocco For The Timitar Music Festival In Agadir
Featuring over 40 artists and 500,000 in attendance, Timitar Festival in Agadir, Morocco, has established itself as one the premiere African music festivals. Considered today as one of the biggest festivals in the country, Timitar provides its audience with an event well rooted in and actively working towards promoting Souss Massa Drâa culture.

The district council of Agadir Under Massa Draâ initiated the Timitar Festival with the goal to set up a cultural project for the meeting between Amazigh artists and world musicians. The President of the festival is the energy tycoon Aziz Akhennouch. The Artistic Director of the festival is Brahim El Mazned.

What defines Timitar from other music festivals in Morocco is its special focus on Amazigh culture. Its permanent theme is “signs and cultures” and Timitar lives up to this tag by including performances by traditional and modern Moroccan musicians alongside those of contemporary international artists.

Each year the Festival Timitar honors artists coming from all over the world including Africa, South America, Europe and the Middle East in order to offer the Agadir audience the best of numerous works in Amazigh traditional music, modern music from the Maghreb and elsewhere, rap, jazz and hip hop.

Since its creation, Timitar has become a key meeting point, both on artistic and cultural levels. As part of Timitar, the Timitar OFF program, which consists of a colloquium and workshops on Deejaying and Veejaying practices for young people, emphasizes Amazigh culture and world music.

The majority of Berbers, also referred to as Amazigh, went unrecognized in North Africa until the mid-‘90’s when they pressed the King publicly for their cultural traditions to be respected and honored. During recent years, the Amazigh have seen a cultural renaissance through recognition of their language in schools, increased awareness in tourism to the Southern region as well as a larger respect from Arab Moroccans and foreigners with regards to their cuisine, Kilim making and silver traditions. This cultural renaissance has been encouraged and fully supported by King Mohammed VI and was initiated by his father King Hassan.

Tashelhit is language of the majority of Berbers and is now being taught in a majority of schools in the South. The government says the aim is to have Berber classes taught in all schools and at all levels within the next 10 years. The move is a sign of increasing recognition of Moroccan Berbers, who have long complained of being denied their rights despite constituting the majority of the population. It is the first step in the fulfillment of a promise made nearly 10 years ago by the late King Hassan to bring Berber into the classroom.Although it is estimated that at least 60% of Moroccans are ethnically Berber or Amazigh as they are known in their own language, Morocco's constitution enshrines Arabic as the country's only official language.

Timitar Festival has produced 46 concerts since its inception. Staged in three open-air venues throughout Agadir, music can be enjoyed at the central Place al Amar, Place Bijaouane and the Théâtre de Verdure. The event is marked by the participation of foreign and domestic artists, presenting eclectic musical styles (Jazz, Hip-Hop, Indian, Spanish and Cuban music) as well as Moroccan culture, including Berber, Gnaoua and other internationally known styles. This great cultural event is organized with the objective of spiritual hospitality and the exchange and is organized around the concept of the meeting of Amazigh music with the music styles of the world.

World renowned artists that have performed at Timitar Festival are Youssou N'Door, Marcel Khalifa, Alpha Blondy, Cheb Khaled, Rokia Traoré, Najat Âatabou, Lamchaheb, Idir, Salif Keita, and Oulad el Bouazzaoui.

Berber groups who have graced the stage are Fatima Tabaamrant, Outajajt, Lahoucine Amarakchi, My Ahmed Ihihi, Fatima Tihihit and Haj Amentag. The audience also has the opportunity to discover new groups working with traditional music within the Souss Massa Drâa Region; who in the past have included Imghrane, Oudaden, Tarragt, Azenkd, Toudart, Lahoucine Aït Baamrane and Aït Laati.

Urban and contemporary music is also commemorated at this seafront festival in account of the alternative artists who made a mark on the local Moroccan music scene, such as Amarg Fusion, Darga, Fez City Clan and Rap 2 Bleb. International urban and contemporary hip hop groups such as Didier Awadi and his band Presidents of Africa and electronic music groups such as Zong and Nortec Collective have also made there way into the festival.

Timitar promises each year to include sounds and images with deejay and veejay sets. In 2008 the festival showcased Al Amal and Bijawane stages, featuring VJ Dennis Dezenn, Kiss Duband Rays; with Dj Big Buddha, Ishtar, Dj B*indi, Mps Pilot, Badr Eddine, Mixape, Dj Key and Dj Saïf.

The diverse line up of the Timitar festival holds strong to spirit of plurality inherent in world music and the Amazigh musical tradition. Attended by Moroccans and foreigners, the Timitar Festival is an exciting foray into Morocco in summer. Along with the spectacular music, one is guaranteed fresh seafood and cool air during the hottest season of the year.




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Timitar Music Festival in Agadir


Travel To Morocco For The Timitar Music Festival In Agadir


Featuring over 40 artists and 500,000 in attendance, Timitar Festival in Agadir, Morocco, has established itself as one the premiere African music festivals. Considered today as one of the biggest festivals in the country, Timitar provides its audience with an event well rooted in and actively working towards promoting Souss Massa Drâa culture. 


The southern Moroccan city of Agadir will host the ninth edition of the Timitar Music Festival which will pay tribute to Amazigh music and culture.

The festival, which will take place on June 27-30, aims at acquainting the audience with Amazigh music, taking the culture to an international level by hosting a wide variety of singers who represent different dialects and music styles.

Performers at the Timitar festival will showcase bands, including Izenzaren, and singers such as Raissa Fatima Tihihit, Aicha Tashinwit, and Ammouri Mbarek. The festival will also pay tribute to famous late Amazigh singer Mohamed Rouicha.

The event does not only aim at allowing Amazigh music and culture to gain maximum exposure, but also supporting both young and famous Amazigh artists, said Khaled Bazid, head of the Timitar Music Festival.

“We help Amazigh artists release their albums,” he told Al Arabiya. “We did that with the famous band Izenzaren, who have been away from the music scene for 22 years but the festival has brought them back to their fans.”

Festival art director Ibrahim al-Maznad said that Timitar, throughout the years, has managed to live up to its slogan: “Amazighs celebrate with world music.”

“We made this come true through inviting hundreds of artists from all over world to take part in the event with their Amazigh counterparts,” he said.

What makes Timitar different from other music events in Morocco is the way it shifted from being regional to more international, Maznad added.
Image for Episode 2
“The festival started in the Sous region in the south of Morroco then became international years after and the albums it released were sold all over Europe and Asia.”

In addition to Moroccan artists, performers from Algeria, France, the United States, Angola, South Korea, Niger and Colombia will also take part in the festival.

Among the festival’s special performers are Iraqi singer Kazem al-Saher, Guinean singer Mori Conte, and American band Earth, Wind, and Fire.

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