Taghazout Bay : “A success touristic story “

by Agadir News

The seaside resort located 15 km north of Agadir has assets that have attracted several international hotel brands. Taghazout Bay has even managed to free itself from the constraint of seasonality.

Promised a bright future for tourism, Taghazout Bay, the life-size seaside resort, overlooks 4.5 km of beaches. That’s not all: it is opening onto a unique and fascinating hinterland, rich in history, flavors, and colors, giving it an exceptional charm. Moreover, 7 hotel units managed by renowned international brands have already succumbed to the charm of this promising seaside resort by settling there. Given its initial vocation, the destination offers a varied entertainment program, that highlights the economic, social, and environmental assets of the Sous-Massa region.

This exceptional site, which offers a type of hotel accommodation and Premium real estate residences, offers high-end products and services in the seaside area all year round. Cultural activities and eco-tourism are not left out. Taghazout Bay, the construction of which will require a total investment of nearly 11 billion dirhams, will have a bed capacity of 4,600 beds by the end of 2024.

A pillar of Agadir’s renewal

The seaside resort is in some way the locomotive of the renewal of the capital of the Souss-Massa region, embodied by the Grand Agadir project, intended to strengthen the attractiveness of the capital of Souss.

Taghazout Bay also shines with its unique offering on the national tourist scene, compared to what the Kingdom’s leading tourist destination, Marrakech, offers. The seaside resort has many sports facilities and a rich cultural activities program during the summer. It thus attracts more and more tourists fond of water sports activities (surfing), festivals, and signature evenings.

An entertainment program that makes a difference

A full range of entertainment gives Taghazout Bay an upward appeal. The Pulse nightclub, the Targant center – a mecca for promoting argan heritage – and the 27-hole golf course are all components of the resort’s offering, which houses an open-air shopping center and also has several academies (golf, surfing), including one currently under construction (tennis).

The Targant Center, specialized in the promotion of the entire argan sector and local products of the Souss-Massa region, works mainly for the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage linked to the argan tree, the promotion of the production and marketing process of argan products, support for local cooperatives and the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of women who are the custodians of this know-how with its exceptional cultural cachet.

Taghazout Bay Beach is a delight for holidaymakers looking for a change of scenery. They can enjoy sunbathing, with lively music and signature dishes, all in a relaxed atmosphere.

The 27-hole golf course is a unique course that combines quality and high technology and offers, as a bonus, a breathtaking view of the bay. Professionals and amateurs alike can practice while enjoying an elevation of 80 meters above sea level.

Taghazout Bay breaks free from seasonality

The diversification of the offer, to which the world-renowned hoteliers present in the resort have contributed, has allowed Taghazout Bay to be able to attract tourists throughout the year. The favorable climate, with 300 days of sunshine per year, optimal connectivity (roads, highway, and airport), as well as the coverage of several tourist segments (seaside, sports, MICE, etc.), are all factors that have allowed the destination to be free itself from seasonality. Taghazout Bay welcomes visitors of all audiences, national and international, in all seasons.

Another argument reinforces the rise of the destination, as well as its development potential, of which local hoteliers are aware: the resort located only 15 km from Agadir has established itself as a destination of choice for the MICE segment (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions), by offering personalized services and quality service for institutions and companies. As proof, the hotel establishments located in the resort offer a capacity of more than 1,500 people.

To conclude on another no less important aspect, in parallel with the rise of the resort, a global upgrade program is being carried out in the neighboring villages. It concerns the development of connection zones, relating to the rural municipalities of Aourir and Taghazout, through the creation of public, private, and entertainment facilities. This contributes to strengthening the attractiveness of the destination.

Source : MEDIAS24

Unexpected Morocco: 7 reasons to discover Why do we still go to Agadir?

by Agadir News

Long reduced to its image of a concrete resort, Agadir surprises with its unique climate, vast beaches, and hidden treasures. We explain why this city is still so attractive between urban renewal, escapades in the hinterland, and Amazigh culture.

“Agadir, nothing to say”, is what people like to chant in Morocco. And yet, with 1.21 million arrivals in 2023, this seaside resort on the southern Atlantic coast plays a key role in Moroccan tourism. The second destination after Marrakech mainly attracts the French, who represent nearly 20% of foreign visitors. But how can we explain this craze for a city often considered charmless, described as “the most banal, if not the ugliest in Morocco” (Pierre Le Coz, Éternité à Taroudant)?

Ravaged in 15 seconds by a terrifying earthquake in 1960, Agadir was rebuilt on a modern seaside model, favoring club hotels to the detriment of a strong cultural anchorage. However, this port city hides its game well and reveals unsuspected assets. Legendary mildness of the climate, and authentic atmosphere, certainly but also more and more family and nature activities, with walks in a hinterland of unsuspected richness. We explain to you why we are going to Agadir. Or, we come back!

1- A seaside resort under a guaranteed sun :
Sun all year round, 3 hours flight from France with very little time difference and a French-speaking welcome, “there is no equivalent”, summarizes Philippe Sangouard, CEO of Boomerang Voyages, of which it is one of the favorite destinations.

2- A competitive destination in terms of price :
Less well served than Marrakech in terms of flights, especially from the provinces, Agadir nevertheless remains competitive compared to its closest competitors; the average price of holiday packages is 20 to 30% lower than in the Canaries, another winter sun destination.

3- Safe beaches and booming leisure activities :

A member of the club of the most beautiful bays in the world, Agadir beach stretches for 7 kilometers at the foot of the Oufella hill, a fabulous playground for land and water sports activities. Its calm waters are ideal for safe swimming, which is not always the case on the Atlantic coast of Morocco.

If you are not staying in a hotel with private access, there are areas with facilities available at low prices (around 2.35 euros per day). A small revolution on this beach, chiringuitos are in the pipeline, the first of which should open this summer.

4- Authenticity at the heart of the revival :

Although it is devoid of the historical heritage that makes the charm of Moroccan medinas, its having disappeared in the 1960 earthquake (we visit the very well-restored ruins of the Oufella kasbah), Agadir has retained a deep authenticity that is expressed in particular in the service. Far from overplaying the exoticism, the capital of Souss-Massa (whose name means “fortified granary” in Tachelhit, one of the three Berber languages ​​in Morocco) is firmly anchored in Amazigh culture.

Une destination compétitive en termes de prix
Moins bien desservie que Marrakech en matière de vols, notamment au départ de province, Agadir reste cependant compétitive au regard de ses concurrentes les plus proches ; le prix moyen des forfaits séjour est 20 à 30% moins élevé qu’aux Canaries, autre destination soleil d’hiver.

On y casse également beaucoup moins sa tirelire que dans la ville Rouge. Hormis quelques bonnes tables, il faut miser là encore sur la simplicité, et les produits de l’océan tout frais pêchés, on y déguste le meilleur poulpe du Maroc.It is also much less expensive than in the Red City. Apart from a few good restaurants, here again, you have to focus on simplicity, and freshly caught ocean products, you can taste the best octopus in Morocco.

5- A seaside resort upgraded :
Since 2020, Agadir has embarked on an ambitious urban development program. Green spaces, smoother arteries, hotel renovations… The metamorphosis is underway. Alongside the improvements, an upgrade is underway, with the planned reopening (after renovation) of around twenty hotels that have been closed for several years and structuring projects: transformation of the Vallée des Oiseaux, Amazigh museum project, etc.

Establishments such as the Royal Atlas, reopened under the lifestyle brand The View, illustrate this move upmarket. “Agadir is more modern, more airy, greener, and more functional,” emphasizes Rachid El Habtey, CEO of the Tikida group, one of the major players in the resort with five regularly renovated hotels.

6- Activities for families, from surfing to safari walks :

Taghazout is the epicenter of surfing in the region, with programs adapted to all levels, including children. ONMT
Sail in the bay on a pirate ship, treat yourself to a little ride in a golden carriage, or take a cable car to the Kasbah Agadir Oufella… Depending on your tastes, you will sort through the more or less kitsch family activities in vogue in Agadir. With the star attraction, the opening of Danialand, a water park perched on a hill with 7 swimming pools and 14 slides, and restaurants, one of which will be set up in an old Airbus cabin.

Nature lovers, you may prefer an outing on foot, on the back of a donkey, or in a 4×4 in the Souss Massa park, to discover birds and Saharan species, Dorcas gazelles or Addax antelopes, or a trip to Croco Park.

While waiting for the upcoming opening of the Lion Safari Park for a safari experience, you can also take a trip to Targant, in Taghazout, a fascinating museum (with innovative scenography) on the argan tree, a tree endemic to the region, with a production unit, shop, and restaurant. Taghazout is also the epicenter of surfing in the region, with programs adapted to all levels, including children.

7- A hinterland of inexhaustible wealth :


At the heart of the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, Agadir is the gateway to a territory of the inexhaustible natural wealth of the Paradise Valley and its western setting in the Souss Massa National Park which stretches south to the Massa Valley. Further on, the Anti-Atlas Mountains invite you to take beautiful day trips or multi-day excursions: the fortified granary route (igoudar) to the south towards Tafraoute, or discover Taroudant, the ephemeral Saadian capital surrounded by ramparts and its surroundings, the Tioute oasis or the valley of citrons…

And 15 minutes from the port of Agadir in the mountains, a hidden gem lies the tombs of the Saadian sheriffs, of disarming simplicity, flanked by a charming mosque (Timzguida Ougard) dating from the Almoravid era in the 12th century. Between authenticity, renewal, and preserved nature, Agadir asserts itself as a destination that defies clichés and invites rediscovery.

Source: Le Figaro

After its restoration and reopening to the public, this is what the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella looks like

by Agadir News

Reopened to the public on February 3, after its restoration, the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella is experiencing a large influx of national and foreign visitors. Here, in this report, is what makes the attractiveness of a unique historical and tourist site.

Accessible after its restoration, the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella has been full since February 3. Hakima comes from Fez and she is amazed by the treasures contained in this monument that has resisted the vagaries of time and especially the devastating earthquake of 1960. This is because this fortress was a real city with its mosque, its hammam, its mausoleums and its Moorish café…

As for the prices, those visitors we interviewed consider them to be more than reasonable. A national visitor does not pay more than 20 dirhams to access it, in addition to 30 dirhams if he wants to have an audio guide or 100 dirhams if he wants to be accompanied by a guide.

Moreover, the visitor can do without guides in this kasbah since he only has to follow the instructions provided by good signage and consult the explanatory plaques available in several languages.

In addition to these services, the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella is perfectly secure with the presence of police officers, private security agents, and CCTV cameras placed everywhere.

Source : Le 360

Cable car: “A real added value for the city of Agadir”

by Agadir News

After the success of the first line linking the new city to the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella, a second cable car line linking the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella to the large Danialand amusement park should see the light of day. A look at a project that aims to revitalize the city’s attractiveness.

Over half a million passengers have used these 1,740 m cable lines in just one year, which were inaugurated in July 2022. Following this success, a second line linking the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella to the large Danialand amusement park, over a length of 1,400 m, should see the light of day. But before embarking on this new project, the project stakeholders are first striving to improve the attractiveness of this new destination through various major projects planned as part of the Danialand amusement park, including the largest water park in Africa.

“The more projects we carry out on the hill, the more visitors we will have,” assures Abdelaaziz Houays, founder of Danialand, specifying that part of the water park project should be operational this summer.

In addition to their visual character, which is unique in Morocco, these cabins suspended in the sky of Agadir offer much more to the local landscape. The success of this first cable car stems not only from its strategic link between the new city and the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella, a monument dating from the 15th century but also from the breathtaking view it offers over the city.

“The cable car connects the new city to the oldest monument in the region and to the historical monument par excellence located on a hill that offers a beautiful view of the ocean and at the same time of the city,” says our interlocutor. On board, “visitors appreciate the ease and pleasure of the flight to the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella and at the same time, the view and the panorama of the bay of Agadir and the fishing port of Agadir,” he adds.

Open to all passengers, regardless of their age, the Agadir cable car receives a wide audience, from the inhabitants of Agadir to national and international tourists, including summer camps and schools. Composed of 29 cabins, including 4 VIP cabins that can accommodate 8 passengers each, the cable car will eventually be able to transport nearly 1,000 people per hour.

“A real added value for the city of Agadir”, the infrastructure helps boost the tourist appeal of the city, particularly that of the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella: “550,000 passengers would not have had the opportunity to visit the Kasbah without the cable car. And the latter would never have transported so many passengers without the Kasbah”, underlines Abdelaaziz Houays.

The founder of Danialand reminds us that approximately 32,000 cable car lines travel around the world and transport nearly 3 billion passengers per year. Traditionally used in snowy areas and ski resorts, 20% of these cable cars are deployed in urban areas. They are also used to open up areas that are difficult to access, but also for public transport in certain cities such as La Paz in Bolivia with its longest and highest urban ring road network in the world, or for transporting tourists as in Agadir.

A means of transport considered among the least risky, the ring road offers countless advantages, particularly from an ecological point of view. A project that is still new in Morocco, its democratization, along with the construction of the large amusement park, will thus strengthen its success and achieve the expected objective.

“We are planning to receive more and more people after the completion of the major project,” says the founder of Danialand, specifying that the total capacity of the cable car currently online is 3 million passengers. Beneficial for the city and its visitors, these major projects also meet the requirements of the Agadir Urban Development Plan.

Source : MEDIAS24