Morocco faces many environmental and social challenges, but with just a little planning it’s easy to avoid contributing to these and enjoying a sustainable holiday.
Morocco might be a shade away from Europe, but culturally, economically and environmentally life here is very different to the lifestyle you might be used too. The country faces many environmental and social challenges, including the impact of global warming, increasing desertification and the battle between traditional culture and a new way of looking at the world. It’s important that any visitor is respectful and aware of these challenges.
Desertification
Water-, and the lack of it, is without a doubt, the biggest environmental issue Morocco faces. The Sahara and pre-Sahara occupies great swathes of the south and east of Morocco, but as Morocco heats up, dries up and the water table continues to fall, the desert sands march further and further north. Do your bit to save water by reducing how long you spend in the shower (or avoid showering everyday) and avoid actively choosing a hotel because it has a swimming pool. Golf courses are very thirsty so for environmental reasons it’s better to avoid a golf holiday in Morocco. One of the biggest causes of expanding desertification in Morocco is not totally climate related but is due to overgrazing by livestock – and in particular goats. While goat is a popular meat in Morocco, the more goat you eat the more goats that are reared, so consider opting for chicken which is more environmentally sound.
Social change
Morocco is the midst of great cultural change. Older, rural generations in particular are likely to have a very different outlook on life to young, middle class urban dwellers. It’s important for you – as a visitor – to be aware of and respect local cultural standards regarding dress and behaviour. For example, walking around a remote desert oasis half undressed and arm and arm with your partner is not likely to be well-received by the local population.
Keep Local
Try and keep your money within your host community. That means avoiding internationally owned chain hotels and restaurants. Using a local tour operator rather than an international one. And, being aware that in cities such as Marrakech and Fez, many of the wonderful riads are owned by foreigners rather than locals, and accordingly the money you spend staying at these might not remain within the local economy.
Community-based travel
Nobody knows the destination like a local does and so getting involved in community-based tourism is a good way of getting a deeper cultural understanding of Morocco. There are lots of opportunities for cultural tourism. These range from taking an insider’s guided walking tour of Fez or Marrakech, to partaking in a cookery course, learning first-hand how to weave a rug in Marrakech or opting to sleep in a village homestay. Actively seeking out community-based travel experiences provides you with great memories and gives local people with an additional income.
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SLOW TRAVEL BY FERRY FROM SPAIN
Overland to Morocco
By now we are all aware that air travel is a major contributor to the greenhouse gases that hasten global warming (of which Morocco is particularly vulnerable). Most visitors to Morocco arrive by air but, with just a few extra days at your disposal, it’s possible to travel from anywhere in Europe to Morocco by train, bus and ferry. It’s better for the environment and it promises to be quite an adventure. Once in Morocco, forgo the hire car and stick with public transport. Good quality and fast trains link almost all of the major cities while buses go frequently to pretty much every small town and village in the country. This makes travelling by public transport easy, cheap and better for the planet.
Under tourism
There are certain key tourism honey pots in Morocco such as Marrakech, Fez and Essaouira, where increasing numbers of visitors are leading to over tourism. To both spread the tourist dollar around the nation and ensure a more pleasant holiday for yourself, consider avoiding these places. Instead of Marrakech head to the ‘mini-Marrakech’ of Taroudant and swap Meknes for Fez. When it comes to the seaside town of Essaouira, there are thousands of kilometres of Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline that rarely see a foreign tourist. If you’re looking for a desert experience, then skip the masses at Merzouga and instead venture out to fascinating Figuig.
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