Geotourism

GEOTOURISMIn Chefchaouen countryside area.

Done by Akajia Mounir

05/02/2023 Geotourism in Chefchaouen countryside.

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I. Geotourism concept


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Geotourism: What is it?

Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its

environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents.


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Geotourism: A holistic vision.

According to geotourism charter signed by different states, geotourism tempt to be an

all-inclusive concept ,that’s to say, geotourism include ecotourism and

sustainable tourism too.

Geotourism is not a niche, it is about everything that goes into making a place

distinctive, unique and integral.


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Geotourism: A tourism benefits extracting mean.

As we all know tourism is like fire, it’s the way it’s done that determines wether it’s good or harmful to the place where it occurs.

Geotourism tends to limit the negative effects of the three overlapping tourism styles by bringing the notion of « land use » :

Anticipate development pressures and apply techniques to prevent undesired overdevelopment and degradation. Contain resort and vacation-home sprawl, especially on coasts and islands, so as to retain a diversity of natural and scenic environments and ensure

continued resident access to waterfronts. Locate high-impact, selfcontained tourism attractions, such as large-scale theme parks and convention facilities unrelated to character of place, in needier locations with no significant ecological, scenic, or cultural assets.


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Geotourism: How to become a destination?

To become a geotourism destination a region must adopt a geotourism strategy by

involving local government, civic organizations, private businesses, as well as

external organizations.To become a geotourism destination

four parallel types of activity are required: defining, sustaining, developing, and marketing your geotourism assets.


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1. Definning

This activity requires the discovering of all the touristic potentials of the given region

that may be interesting as far as geotourists are conserned .


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2. Sustaining

This activity requires the best conservation and land use before

geotourists arrive on site, once damage is done, it’s hard to reset it. To do so

manageable numbers of tourists must be taken into consediration.


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3. Developing

This activity requires a minimum development of the given area, this latter

must be equipped by the necessary components that geotourists may be in need

of to stay overnight.


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4. Assets marketing:

This activity requires the creation of different communication means in order to

attract potential geotourists around the world.


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II. Applying geotourism concept to Chefchaouen region.


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ABSTRACT

As we all know, Morocco has not signed the National Geographic geotourism charter yet, hence Chefchaouen region doesn’t

receive any geotourists yet. However this area has a lot of potentials that may play a

role in the success of a geotourism strategy, namely its natural and cultural

potentials and of course the success of rural tourism program in this part of our country.


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1.Background


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Location

Chaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same

name. Chefchaouen is situated in the Rif mountains about 50 km from the

Mediterranean sea about 100km from the nearest airport (tangier)


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Etymology

Chefchaouen or Chaouen, as it is often called by Moroccans. The name derives

from the Berber word for horns “Ichawen” whitch refers to the shape of the

mountain tops above the town, that look like the two horns (chaoua) of a goat.


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HistoryThe city was founded in 1471, as a small fortress which still

exists to this day, by Moorish exiles from Spain led by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami to fight

the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco.It was known as one of the main concentrations

of Moriscos and Jews who sought refuge in this mountainous city after the Spanish reconquista in medieval

times. In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco. Spanish troops imprisoned Abd el-Krim in the kasbah from 1916 to 1917, after he talked with the German consul Dr. Walter Zechlin (1879–1962). (After

defeating him with the help of the French force Abd el-Krim was deported to Réunion in 1926). Spain returned the city

after the independence of Morocco in 1956.


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Economy

The economy of Chefchaouen is based on:-Agriculture-Tourism-handcraft-Basic businesses


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Urban and rural

Chefchaouen city is the linkage between the urban life style and the rural one. This city is the western direct access to the well

known Talassemtane national park.This National Park is a key tourist

attraction in the Chefchaouen PAT “tourism destination area”—or pays d’acceuil

touristique . The park is home to protected fir trees that stretch over 64,000 hectares.


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2.Tourism resources & potentials


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a. Cultural values:

Chefchaouen city offers one of the most preserved Moroccan life styles, it’s Djebala

way of living, housing and speaking.The local residents speak one of the

distinguished moroccan arab dialects.The local culture in Chaouen is totally

different compared to any other region in Morocco. Local residents have their own

way of wearing and cooking .


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agro-silvo-pastoral lifestyle:


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Other cultural aspects: Crafts. Local architecture. Traditional Costumes. Intangible Heritage.


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b. Natural values:

Chefchaouen tourism destination area « PAT » has a lot of natural potentials,

especially those present on Talassemtane national park.

Natural potentials are presented in the following slides by categories and sorts.

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Talassemtane national park:

Creation Date: October 8, 2004.

Objective: To protect the tree stands in Morocco (Abies maro-cana).

Area 64,000 ha.

Geotourism in Chefchaouen countryside.

Location


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1. Flora

In Talassemtane national park, flora biodeversity counts thousands of specimens. More than 1150 species listed in the park are

from more than 100 families. 56 species from 20 families are considred to

be Moroccan endemic ones. 25 species from 20 families are described

as very rare. 59 species from 24 families are described

as rare.


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Flora : some species.

Abies marocana Xeranthemumcylindraecum

Saponariaofficinalis


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2. Fauna

Talassemtane national park counts hundereds of faunistic species, they are as follows:

180 species of aquatic macroinvertebrates.

33 species of reptiles and amphibians. 104 species of birds. 35 species of mammals.


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Fauna : some mamals.

golden jackal Ichneumon MongooseBarbary Macac

Gloved cat Lutra lutra Mouse-eared notched


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Fauna : Avifauna.

Le grand-duc ascalaphe Aigle de bonelli Le faucon crécerellette

Bec croisé des sapins Hibou moyen ducPic de l’eveillant


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Fauna : Herpetofauna.

Rénette méridionale Lézard ocellé Eumècés d’algérie

Seps à écailles nombreuses Salamandra algiraSeps rifain


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Fauna : Aquatic insects.

Microsema SP Onychogomphus forcipatus Libellule fantôme

Athripsode cinereus Esolus parallellipipedusEpeorus sylvicola


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Fauna : Shellfish.Ancylus fluviatilis

Limnée voyageuse

Piscidium casertanum

Melanopsis praemorsa


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c. Cultural events: Festivals: Museums:

Alegria Festival. Ethnographic Museum.

PNTS Eco Museum.


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3. Geotourism in Chefchaouen: How to become a destination?


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a. Geotourism Strategy: the Ministry of Tourism should design and

help implement a regional geotourism strategy. Moreover they have to help develop the concept of geotourism destination areas, or pays d’acceuil geotouristiques (PAGs).

State institutions at Chefchaouen region must foster partnerships and strategic alliances at the regional, and local levels to promote an integrated approach to geotourism development and investments in tourism infrastructure.


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b. Product Development: Several geotourism itineraries must be

devloped and published within Talassemtane national park and Chefchaouen city.

GPS maps for the whole PAG “ pays d’acceuill geotouristique” should be devloped and enough local residents of Chefchaouen should be trained in mapping techniques.

All itineraries, along with operational details should be published in a Group Tour Planner.


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c. Promotional Activities: A periodic geotourism marketing strategy should be developed

in collaboration with public and private sector actors. An overall geotourism brand and a distinct identity for

Chefchaouen PAG must be created. Leaflets for this PAG in French, English, and Spanish have to be

published. French-language mountain tourism in Chefchaouen area

guides should be translated into English and Spanish. promotional literature has to be produced. A regional Web portal on geotourism should be designed. A database of many international and Moroccan tour operators

has to be created. Familiarization trips for international tour operators must be

organized.


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d. Training and Capacity Building:

Ministry of Tourism capacity to track geotourism flows through surveys of international visitors to Morocco must be built.

Workshops on geotourism planning for public and private sector stakeholders in chefchaouen area should be organized.

Workshops on visitor site development and tourist information for regional tourism planners, environmental protection officers, and local development agents must be organized.

National workshop on financing opportunities for geotourism development for microfinance professionals should be held.

A comprehensive manual on design, management, and operation of rural accommodations has to be created.


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e. Pilot Projects: Women’s cooperatives must be helped to

diversify their products, improve marketing, and establish an interpretative center.

Heritage sites must be restored. Roadside pull-offs and a visitor center must be

upgraded. Scenic trails, along with car parking and rest

areas have to be refurbished. An awareness-building campaign on responsible

tourism, geotourism and environmental protection of mountain areas should be launched.


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The end

We really believe that Geotourism will be the basis for a beneficial and fully

rewarding type of tourism for Chefchaouen area’s local residents. However these

latters should comprehend that geotourism concept will be the lone tourism form

capable to protect and preserve their local culture, their environment and their moral

values too.


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Thank you for attention.

Travel

Geotourism