Marrakech, Morocco:
Attractiveness and resilience

Here is another African epicentre of global tourism. With real glamour and jet-set appeal. An imperial city with a medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and their snow-capped peaks (increasingly rare...), “Kech” is a fascinating city, with its centuries-old history, natural beauty, heritage and regional wealth ( some winters, you can still ski in Oukaïmeden). It has drawn celebrities from around the world for decades, and more recently, hordes of tourists arriving on low-cost flights. Marrakech, Morocco's fourth largest city in terms of population, generated more than 10 million overnight stays in 2024. Expatriates are settling there, the property market is booming, and local and international companies are moving there to capitalise on its dynamic ecosystem. There's also a host of gallery owners, artists and designers who create the city's unique cultural and museum scene. While this vitality generates considerable economic benefits, it also creates environmental and social pressures: saturation of water networks, pollution, waste management, skyrocketing rents in the medina and land speculation on the outskirts, airport congestion, etc. During the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup matches will be held in the ‘Ochre City’, raising its profile. Striking a balance between global appeal and local resilience, in a context of increasing climate vulnerability will be a crucial consideration.