HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyaoui
At a time when the Kingdom is preparing to host the most prominent African and international football events, and through which the city of Ifrane is working to enhance its attractiveness and attract a larger number of tourists, the city is experiencing a wide discussion following the local authorities' commencement of implementing an administrative decision concerning a number of cafes in the city center.
The demolition has not yet been carried out, but the authorities have given the cafe owners a deadline to remove the facades that used to add a special charm to the heart of Ifrane, before starting any field procedures. These cafes are among the most prominent spaces that formed part of the visual identity of the city, as they are among the finest cafes that have attracted visitors from various regions for years. However, the implementation of the administrative decision has created a clear shift in the general scene, after the center lost its aesthetics that have always distinguished it, transforming some spaces into scenes that suggest a rural city that lacks cleanliness and organization, with the spread of dirt and dirty facades in the absence of strictness in management. Local sources confirm that the authorities' intervention came within the framework of implementing the law and organizing public property, but a number of tourism actors consider that the timing of the decision is not appropriate, especially since Ifrane is still suffering from a weakness in the profitability of its tourism sector compared to its natural and human qualifications. Those interested in local affairs are demanding the need to find a formula that balances enforcing respect for the law and preserving the attractiveness of the city center, as it is the first interface that receives guests of Ifrane, especially at a stage where the country is preparing to host global sporting events that require cities in the most beautiful attire.
