World heritage classification and tourism: divergent trajectories in Marrakech Medina (Morocco) and M’Zab Valley (Algeria)

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the reasons that have led to unequal tourism development between the two World Heritage Sites in Little Maghreb, in Northern Africa: the Marrakech Medina in Morocco and the M’Zab Valley in Algeria. Based on an exploratory ethnography consisting of observational fieldwork and semi-structured interviews with tourists, private investors, real estate agencies, tourism agencies, local artisans, and heritage and tourism specialists, the findings reveal that unlike in Western contexts, state interventionist policies have a decisive influence on the configuration of unequal tourism development in Marrakech and M’Zab Valley. This study highlights the need for designing new, community-based policy tools in both Morocco and Algeria in order to move forward more resilient, competitive, inclusive and sustainable local economies in these two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

KEYWORDS:

• World Heritage Site
• tourism development
• urban trajectory
• Marrakech Medina
• M’Zab Valley

Acknowledgements

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the interviewees who generously contributed their time and expertise. This includes tourists, tour guides, tourism agency managers, owners of tourist accommodations, university professors, and residents in Marrakech and M’Zab.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The MEDA program was the main financial framework for the cooperation of the European Union with the Mediterranean countries for the period 1995–2006.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Naimeh Rezaei

Naimeh Rezaei is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Urban Development, University of Tehran. She conducts research on urban heritage, heritage tourism urban change and vernacular architecture. Her research focuses mainly on Iran and the North African Region.

Jordi Nofre

Jordi Nofre is FCT Associate Research Professor in Urban Geography at the Interdisciplinary Center of Social Sciences, NOVA University of Lisbon. He conducts research on nightlife, tourism, and urban change. He is coordinator of the Lisbon-based LXNIGHTS Research Group, co-founder of the International Night Studies Network, and Main Coordinator of the ‘Next Generation Nights in Europe’ COST Action proposal.

Zahed Ghaderi

Zahed Ghaderi is currently attached to the Department of Tourism, College of Arts and Social Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. He has over two decades of both academic and practical experience. Zahed has published extensively in top-tier tourism and hospitality journals such as Tourism Management, Journal of Travel Research, International Journal of Hospitality Management, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, etc. His research interests include but are not limited to heritage and cultural tourism, sustainable tourism, and tourism planning.