HIBAPRESS – Ifrane
The Ifrane National Park project brings back to the forefront a renewed discussion about the reality of environmental and tourism projects in Morocco, amid growing questions about the fate of this project, which is expected to be a qualitative addition to the region.
This project is seen as a key lever to enhance the tourism and environmental attractiveness of the region, due to its unique natural qualifications, from the vast cedar forests to the rich biodiversity, which makes the Ifrane National Park a strategic space to achieve a balance between environmental conservation and sustainable development. However, local affairs observers are recording a slowdown in the pace of activating this project, despite what was previously announced of programs and plans aimed at rehabilitating tourism infrastructure and strengthening mechanisms for protecting the forest area. This situation, according to them, raises questions about the constraints that hinder its implementation, whether related to funding, coordination between stakeholders, or technical aspects. In contrast, actors in the environmental field emphasize that the implementation of such projects requires a participatory approach that takes into account the specificities of the field, with the involvement of the local population as a key partner in preserving natural resources and ensuring their sustainability. Professionals in the ecotourism sector also emphasize that accelerating the pace of this project will contribute to creating new job opportunities and diversifying the tourism offer in the region, especially in light of the growing trend towards ecotourism as a strategic option. The challenge, according to observers, remains the transition from the stage of announcement and planning to the stage of actual implementation, which enhances the confidence of citizens and economic actors in the feasibility of these projects, and establishes the position of Ifrane as a leading environmental and tourist destination at the national level.
