The culture of Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is the most westerly of the North African countries known as the Maghreb - the "Arab West". It has Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, a rugged mountain interior and a history of independence not shared by its neighbours.

Its rich culture is a blend of Arab, Berber, European and African influences.

Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, when Sultan Mohammed became king. He was succeeded in 1961 by his son, Hassan II, who ruled for 38 years and played a prominent role in the search for peace in the Middle East.

He also ruthlessly suppressed domestic opposition. A truth commission set up to investigate human rights violations during his reign confirmed nearly 10,000 cases, ranging from death in detention to forced exile.

Hassan's son and successor in 1999, Mohammed VI, is a cautious moderniser who has introduced some economic and social liberalisation. In 2011 he revised the constitution in response to "Arab Spring" protests, and appointed a new government in January 2012. Powerful trade unions waited until May to launch mass protests against the authorities' failure to meet democratic and economic expectations.

The status of Western Sahara remains unresolved. Morocco annexed the territory in 1975 and a guerrilla war with Algerian-backed pro-independence forces ended in 1991. UN efforts have failed to break the political deadlock.

To the north, a dispute with Spain in 2002 over the tiny island of Perejil revived the issue of the sovereignty of Melilla and Ceuta. These small enclaves on the Mediterranean coast are surrounded by Morocco and have been administered by Spain for centuries.

Morocco has been given the status of non-Nato ally by Washington, which has praised its support for the US-led war on terror. After deadly suicide bombings in Casablanca in 2003, Morocco launched a crackdown on suspected Islamic militants.

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Morocco - a country rich in nature!

Morocco mountain

Nature is never far away in Morocco. Desert, mountains, valleys and sea - the country has plenty to offer fans of the outdoors!

Hikers of all levels will love walking the Moroccan mountains. Among the temperate peaks of the Rif mountain range, its cliffs jutting out into the Mediterranean make this under-explored region magical.

Morocco mountain

The lakes are packed with trout waiting for amateur fishermen. The more sporty will want to tackle the challenges of the Middle and Upper Atlas mountains on foot, by mountain bike or in a paraglider, or to practice mountain climbing, canyoning or pot-holing. Its summits can reach 4000m high. Ifrane, the little Moroccan Switzerland, may come as a pleasant surprise with its summer coolness, winter snow and traditional "mule-ski" trails.

Nothing is as indescribable as a stay on the edge of the desert... Head to Ouarzazate to discover its immensity and colours. At night, opt for an encampment in the desert, a chalet in the mountains and, wherever you are, bed and breakfast with the locals for an unforgettable and authentic experience. These are at the heart of the Moroccan identity, like palmtrees, argan oil and the honey from its lavender.

Looking out over the Atlantic, you will be enchanted by the turquoise waters of Dakhla bay! There you will meet migratory birds and pink flamingos.

In Morocco, every taste is naturally catered for!

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High Street Travel Agents Face Up to Cheap Flights Found Online

The massive growth in online travel agents and price comparison websites has caused great distress to their more traditional, high street-based competitors. The likes of Thomas Cook and Thomson are being challenged on their home turf by the enormous increase in the amount of cheap flights and budget holiday accommodation easily available on the Internet.

The advent of the credit crunch and the resulting global economic downturn, led to many people looking afresh at their household budget and changing the shopping and leisure habits of a lifetime. Grocery shopping increasingly took place at the cheaper supermarkets and marketing campaigns for the supermarkets changed to reflect this. The holiday habits of UK households changed as well, with people looking to save money without sacrificing their much-needed holidays.

They were greatly helped in this with the march of the budget airlines, offering cheap flights to short and medium-haul destinations that had previously been out of the price range of many people. When these low fares were combined with the ease of Internet searching and price comparison, they led to significant savings for hard-pressed families. They also caused a shift in the way people planned their holidays. Whereas before you would book a package holiday and let the travel agent sort everything out, now people were creating a tailor-made break, choosing the cheap flights that suited them and matching them up with cheap accommodation in the destination of their choice.

To the traditional travel agents, this inevitably posed a real and present threat. The costs and overheads associated with a visible high street presence are considerable in themselves, but maintaining a network of dedicated resorts and the means to get customers to them is also expensive. In most cases, old-style travel agents simply cannot compete with the more streamlined online alternatives.

Package holidays are also more vulnerable to the effects of currency fluctuations than the individual cheap flights and accommodation available on the Internet. With so many high street travel agents tied to resorts in the EU, the increase in the strength of the euro has been bad news for them, as UK holidaymakers decide against a fortnight on the Continent and opt instead for short European city breaks and a "main" holiday outside the Eurozone, such as the increasingly popular destinations of Turkey and Egypt. Such shifts have been easily accommodated by the providers of cheap flights - especially the low-cost airlines, who have added a host of medium-haul routes to destinations such as Turkey, Morocco and Croatia.

Kim has 4 years experience in the travel industry. She enjoys writing articles on various destinations and Travel related topics.

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