Morocco ''African Tourism Destination of the Year''

Morocco has been named African Tourism Destination of the Year at the African Business Awards in London.

The country is said to have made innovative and proactive decisions when cultivating its tourism offerings.

Director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office UK, Mr Ali El Kasmi, said: "We are delighted to have won such an accolade. Morocco offers a quality product and a cultural destination full of energy, mysticism and spice."

After receiving the award, the Moroccan Tourist Office is keen to show its colours with a new initiative called ''Plan Azur'', which aims to attract ten million holidaymakers a year to the North African nation.

Plan Azur will see the building of a range of new resorts which are sympathetic to the country''s rich cultural heritage.

The first of the new resorts is Mediterrania-Saidia, which was opened last month and offers panoramas of coastline, mountains and deserts as well as sporting a superb harbour.