Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important topic in the hospitality industry and Morocco is one of the leading countries in terms of sustainable tourism, with more than 60 cities signing its charter on responsible tourism. Morocco’s coastline is no exception, with Morocco’s Government and several seaside resorts implementing sustainable initiatives to preserve beautiful beaches and protect the environment.
From north to south, 21 beaches are declared ‘Blue Flag’ status for their cleanliness, an initiative introduced by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Environment. The foundation continues to develop the programme and provides environmental education, marine life protection and improves accessibility and safety of beaches. Each local municipality is in charge of all areas of beach management including maintenance, cleanliness, promotion of water quality, recycling and sanitation.
It is not just the municipality that looks after beaches, there are many beach clean-up projects organised by surf clubs and local organisations throughout the country. Surf clubs in Essaouira and Taghazout, for example, have been organising beach clean-up events for years. These events bring together volunteers from the local community to collect rubbish and plastic waste from the beaches, helping to keep them clean and safe for both visitors and marine life.
Another sustainable initiative is water waste recycling in beach resorts. Several seaside resorts in Morocco, including Agadir, Taghazout, El Jadida and Saidia have implemented water treatment systems that recycle greywater for irrigation and other non-potable uses. This reduces the amount of freshwater needed for resort activities and minimises the impact on local water resources.
Some beachside resorts have also implemented renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines to reduce their carbon footprint. The Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, for example, has installed 6,000 square meters of solar panels to generate electricity for the resort, reducing their dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
In addition to these initiatives, several beach resorts in Morocco have also implemented sustainable practices in their daily operations. For instance, eliminating single-use plastics such as straws and plastic cups, opting for biodegradable alternatives instead. Others have implemented recycling programs and composting initiatives to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
