España y Marruecos fortalecen lazos
Tourism has brought Spain and Morocco closer together. We had the opportunity to attend the gala dinner organised by Morocco in Madrid on the occasion of the general assembly of the World Tourism Organisation, an assembly that was to be held in Marrakech but was moved to Madrid due to the impact of COVID.
The Spanish Minister of Tourism, Reyes Maroto, and the Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Fatima Zahra Ammor, had no qualms about posing together when asked to do so by Atalayar magazine. Sitting at their table, the ministers preferred to stand up and pose together. They had a brief conversation in which the two confirmed that this opportunity provided by tourism had been used to bring the two countries closer together. The Moroccan minister, in her speech at the dinner, had already thanked Madrid for its hospitality and had recommended everyone to get to know the wonderful places that Morocco has to offer for tourism of all kinds, provided that the COVID allows it.
Minister Reyes Maroto told me that there had been no hesitation in accepting the request to organise the assembly and that this event represented a rapprochement between the two governments that could contribute to resolving the political crisis between the two neighbouring countries, which need each other very much.
This closeness is evidence of the momentum and the desire of both kingdoms to engage in cooperation and diplomacy. Although we cannot yet say that we have completely overcome the diplomatic crisis, Morocco and Spain know that they have a lot at stake in these neighbourly relations and that the differences are always minor.
Even at a time when the spread of the Omicron variant has forced Morocco to close its airspace for an estimated two weeks, Minister Zahra travelled to Madrid in the Assembly. This meaningful gesture suggests that both Morocco and Spain intend to continue to cooperate and establish diplomatic relations that will pave the way for an end to the crisis.
At the ceremony, music further harmonised the atmosphere. To the rhythm of Arab and Spanish singers, the meeting was a cultural exchange that brought East and West closer together through musical culture.
During the event, the Moroccan minister thanked the Spanish delegations for their hospitality and described tourism as a very enriching opportunity for rapprochement and cooperation. From Spain, Minister Maroto welcomed this openness on the part of Morocco and endorsed the opportunity. She also stressed the importance of trying to make an effort to ensure that women and men achieve equality in the tourism sector and achieve "a more inclusive, fairer and more egalitarian sector".
The secretary general also thanked the Moroccan delegation for their presence at the event. This meeting undoubtedly symbolises the rapprochement that Morocco and Spain are trying to bring about through something as gratifying as tourism, a means by which the West and the East come closer and manage to grow culturally.
Morocco and Spain are moving closer together, and this is increasingly evident from the recent moves that both kingdoms are making towards building a solid and lasting diplomatic relationship. In addition to their important cooperation in the fight against terrorism, tourism now seeks to establish itself as another enclave through which they can build a fruitful partnership.
Today, tourism turnover has managed to diversify into a surprisingly fast-growing economic sector. Both Morocco and Spain know that their culture and wealth are an exchange that represents a unique opportunity to bring us closer together and build bridges.
This scenario shows that the two countries want to continue to work together and enrich themselves with a diplomacy as attractive and rich as tourism. Despite the crisis, Morocco and Spain continue to walk along the same path, this time stimulated by the tourism sector, a sector that is trying to strengthen itself after the shock of the pandemic.
