Dream with us! There was a time when a stay in Marrakech was reserved for the few: in the Mamounia salons, at the casino for a festive evening, in the Palmeraie for a tennis match, near Jemaa el-Fna square to drink mint tea on a terrace, and even more so inside the Club Méditerranée’s walls…
A destination of elitist rank par excellence, Marrakech, the pink city, at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, was a place that triggered fantasies…
But I’m talking about a era when the city counted only a handful of charming hotels, very few resorts, a few regular daily flights from Europe, a mellah, souks perfumed with spices and leather tanned and studded by artisans with millennial know-how…
In short! In Marrakech, one wandered under flamboyants and jacarandas in Guéliz, taking care to avoid little donkeys and yellow taxis that bobbed along in search of a client…
Different times, different customs and different motivations for a rare tourist whose numbers rose in spring, dimmed during summers that were too hot, or celebrated a New Year’s Eve around a true “pastilla” made with pigeon meat!
In 1980, Marrakech welcomed one to two million visitors.
A destination of elitist rank par excellence, Marrakech, the pink city, at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, was a place that triggered fantasies…
But I’m talking about a era when the city counted only a handful of charming hotels, very few resorts, a few regular daily flights from Europe, a mellah, souks perfumed with spices and leather tanned and studded by artisans with millennial know-how…
In short! In Marrakech, one wandered under flamboyants and jacarandas in Guéliz, taking care to avoid little donkeys and yellow taxis that bobbed along in search of a client…
Different times, different customs and different motivations for a rare tourist whose numbers rose in spring, dimmed during summers that were too hot, or celebrated a New Year’s Eve around a true “pastilla” made with pigeon meat!
In 1980, Marrakech welcomed one to two million visitors.
Marrakech : a spectacular boom
What happened? Over the last ten years, it is clear that Morocco decided to accelerate its development in tourism.Spotted by a jet set hungry for insider experiences, Marrakech, like the rest of the country, has allowed the proliferation of numerous luxury hotels and riads (mostly upscale) distributed by European tour operators to a growing clientele seeking rest, a mild winter climate, and the authenticity of the Cherifian Kingdom.
Spreading more and more, increasingly congested by relentless traffic and with the arrival of roughly 8 to 10 million visitors, the destination features a hotel stock that has exploded, rising from about 150 hotels to 2,000 today.
This has shifted the pink city from a high-end tourism image to a more mass-oriented tourism, drawn by a mosaic of more playful than cultural offers, nearer to a theme park than a patrimonial destination.
Among media mentions, a recent M6 program highlighted the surge of water parks as a genuine cash cow for families, with no fewer than 38 parks, about a dozen large ones, at all price points, with or without lodging, competing in imagination and technical prowess to diversify their entertainment offerings.
The mere slides were insufficient, as Oasiria, the largest of Marrakech’s parks, offers 58 slides across 8 pools – including a wave pool that makes it the largest in Africa.
With very affordable rates, these parks are also accessible through time-based entries (2 hours, for example 18 euros), with or without lodging, in 5-star accommodations or camping…
Yet, behind this undeniable commercial success that will likely keep Marrakech among the world’s most coveted destinations, lie grave environmental problems, notably the risk of water shortages.
According to a piece in the Moroccan daily Médias24, despite heavy winter rainfall, the levels of groundwater and dam water (especially around Marrakech) have not risen enough to look to the future with optimism.
Thus, Oasiria operates 7,500 cubic meters of water for its pools spread across ten hectares, representing a staggering 7.5 million liters of stored water, equivalent to several thousand days of domestic consumption for a Moroccan family.
In addition to the initial filling, one must also compensate for evaporation at 40°C, clean the filters, water the green spaces, launder linens, refresh the water, ensure air conditioning… and do the same for hundreds of hotel pools, villas, and ten major golf courses into which 10 million air travelers flow annually, i.e., 28,000 travelers per day spread across 90 to 100 flights daily.
The Market Reports study on the evolution of consumer demand for parks notes a 47% rise in family group attendance and a 29% increase in indoor hybrid facilities. We are looking at 65 million visitors worldwide across 1,200 parks!
On the Emirates side, activity is ramping up too
If the southern Moroccan jewel now delights families with children, the United Arab Emirates are not to be outdone.
Eager to expand and diversify their clientele, they anticipate 15 to 20 large water parks if one includes independent large water parks, those integrated into hotels and resorts, and grand aquatic tourist complexes.
In Dubai alone, Aquaventure Waterpark is regarded as one of the world’s largest water parks, boasting more than 100 attractions.
Wild Wadi Water Park, near the Burj Al Arab, Legoland Water Park, Jungle Bay Waterpark, Laguna Waterpark… draw a large share of regional, European, and Asian visitors thanks to a very family-friendly all-inclusive offering.
In Abu Dhabi, more cultural in tone, parks are fewer in number but Yas Waterworld, for instance, a vast 15-hectare park, offers more than 40 attractions.
In the other emirates, a few new attractions are also beginning to emerge. While Saudi Arabia has likewise positioned itself on this family, regional, and international market with an increasingly spectacular and costly array of entertainments—almost pharaonic.
Once again, the water challenge persists, but so does the question of women’s attendance that remains to be fully addressed.
Should we split aquatic space in two? Should we share opening hours by gender?
Given the country’s ambition to become one of the world’s largest destinations, it seems more openness is indeed underway.
But for water, desalination plants, wastewater recycling, and restrictions will not suffice for long. And again (as we can see today), the future is not decided and far from assured.
Eager to expand and diversify their clientele, they anticipate 15 to 20 large water parks if one includes independent large water parks, those integrated into hotels and resorts, and grand aquatic tourist complexes.
In Dubai alone, Aquaventure Waterpark is regarded as one of the world’s largest water parks, boasting more than 100 attractions.
Wild Wadi Water Park, near the Burj Al Arab, Legoland Water Park, Jungle Bay Waterpark, Laguna Waterpark… draw a large share of regional, European, and Asian visitors thanks to a very family-friendly all-inclusive offering.
In Abu Dhabi, more cultural in tone, parks are fewer in number but Yas Waterworld, for instance, a vast 15-hectare park, offers more than 40 attractions.
In the other emirates, a few new attractions are also beginning to emerge. While Saudi Arabia has likewise positioned itself on this family, regional, and international market with an increasingly spectacular and costly array of entertainments—almost pharaonic.
Once again, the water challenge persists, but so does the question of women’s attendance that remains to be fully addressed.
Should we split aquatic space in two? Should we share opening hours by gender?
Given the country’s ambition to become one of the world’s largest destinations, it seems more openness is indeed underway.
But for water, desalination plants, wastewater recycling, and restrictions will not suffice for long. And again (as we can see today), the future is not decided and far from assured.
Europe does not hold back
In France, Aquascope sets the tone for the future
Named “Best water park in the world” by Thea Awards, during a prestigious ceremony in Hollywood, the Aquascope, located in the Futuroscope park, is organized into three domains, spread over a 6,000 m2 area.
It features wave pools, slide races, and eight impressive slides including the “Matrix”, a rafting ride aboard oversized tubes.
More than anything, combining the best of technology, the Aquascope, with its attraction “The Abyss of Light”, makes it possible to experience cinema while staying in the water and floating amid all kinds of water movements.
It features wave pools, slide races, and eight impressive slides including the “Matrix”, a rafting ride aboard oversized tubes.
More than anything, combining the best of technology, the Aquascope, with its attraction “The Abyss of Light”, makes it possible to experience cinema while staying in the water and floating amid all kinds of water movements.
Worldwide, the USA and Asia-Pacific
With more than 1,200 water parks in operation globally, including 345 located in North America, the Asia-Pacific region has also witnessed the fastest expansion of water park developments, accounting for 38% of new openings between 2022 and 2024.
As for the pioneers—the United States—they are approaching saturation, boasting 117 outdoor water parks and 45 indoor water parks. Florida alone is home to 29 major parks, including Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, which welcomed over 1.6 million visitors in 2023.
One could also mention Las Vegas, where casinos no longer suffice to keep the cash registers ringing. With an 8% drop in attendance, the gaming capital is also betting on water-based attractions.
But you still have to make the trip! Marrakech, as you may have gathered, remains far more accessible.
Until when? That is the question indeed. And once again, perhaps it would be wiser not to delay too long in recognizing the seriousness of the situation.
As for the pioneers—the United States—they are approaching saturation, boasting 117 outdoor water parks and 45 indoor water parks. Florida alone is home to 29 major parks, including Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, which welcomed over 1.6 million visitors in 2023.
One could also mention Las Vegas, where casinos no longer suffice to keep the cash registers ringing. With an 8% drop in attendance, the gaming capital is also betting on water-based attractions.
But you still have to make the trip! Marrakech, as you may have gathered, remains far more accessible.
Until when? That is the question indeed. And once again, perhaps it would be wiser not to delay too long in recognizing the seriousness of the situation.
Next-generation attractions
To keep audiences coming back, manufacturers are rolling out next-generation attractions, such as intelligent slides with biometric monitoring and interactive customization of experiences.
In 2024, 14 models of water slides were equipped with integrated VR headsets. The combination of physical sensations and digital experiences boosted the popularity of the rides by 46%.
Wave-simulation pools using AI algorithms to calibrate models are now installed in 11 countries.
Lazy rivers with synchronized music and AR environments were launched by three companies between 2023 and 2024. ProSlide, for its part, unveiled six new hybrid rides combining vertical drops and wave motion…
See the site: www.iaapa.org
In 2024, 14 models of water slides were equipped with integrated VR headsets. The combination of physical sensations and digital experiences boosted the popularity of the rides by 46%.
Wave-simulation pools using AI algorithms to calibrate models are now installed in 11 countries.
Lazy rivers with synchronized music and AR environments were launched by three companies between 2023 and 2024. ProSlide, for its part, unveiled six new hybrid rides combining vertical drops and wave motion…
See the site: www.iaapa.org
Journalist, consultant, speaker, Josette Sicsic has been observing the changes in the world for over 25 years to analyze their impact on the tourism sector.
After developing Touriscopie for more than 20 years, she remains at the forefront of current affairs where she decodes the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, in the Futuroscopie section, she publishes several prospective and analytical articles each week.
Contact: 06 14 47 99 04
Email: [email protected]
After developing Touriscopie for more than 20 years, she remains at the forefront of current affairs where she decodes the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, in the Futuroscopie section, she publishes several prospective and analytical articles each week.
Contact: 06 14 47 99 04
Email: [email protected]
