اخبار المغرب – وطن نيوز
اخر اخبار المغرب اليوم – اخبار المغرب العاجلة
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-06-16 22:30:00
Omaima Attia – Code Casa // From the heart of New York, and in the middle of one of the most crowded spaces in the world, Times Square, these days witnessed strong scenes of Moroccan fans raising red flags, chanting the national anthem, and singing and celebrating the achievements of the “Atlas Lions.” One scene that was revealed globally was the start of the largest sporting event for me, which is the 2026 World Cup. This presence of Moroccans in American arenas was nothing more than sports encouragement, but it had a live image as it was broadcast directly on social media and the media, and as the Moroccan public became one of the most powerful tools for indirect promotion of the country’s image, as it is one of the largest tourist markets in the world. From Times Square to the streets of major American cities, the scene of the Moroccan masses creates curiosity among those who come and go: Who are these people? Where did he come from? What is Morocco? This interaction directly increases searches for Morocco as a tourist destination, and gives a new impetus to its image as a cultural, safe, and touristic country. In this context, “Code” posed a question to tourism expert Zuber Bouhout about how it is possible to capitalize on the strong presence of the Moroccan national team and link the image of the “Atlas Lions” to the 2026 World Cup, thus enhancing the attractiveness of the Moroccan tourist destination? In a special statement to “Code,” Kal Zuber Bouhout, an expert in tourism, said that the relationship between the Moroccan national team and the tourism sector is no longer a strategic relationship today based on the soft power of the countries, especially after the major transformation that occurred in Morocco’s image after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He added to an expert that “We cannot understand this relationship between the national team and tourism until we return to the boom that took place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At that time, the team did not “Baqash is not a football team, but it has a national brand that reflects the image of Morocco in the world.” Bouhout explained that international experiences have shown that sports are no longer one of the most powerful territorial marketing tools, citing countries such as Spain after the 1982 World Cup, Mexico in 1986, and South Korea in 2002, which benefited from the sports radiation to boost tourism in their countries. Regarding the Moroccan presence in American arenas, especially in Times Square, Cal Bouhout “People are seeing thousands of Moroccans singing and celebrating in the middle of New York, creating a very strong image. This scene turns the Moroccan fan into an unofficial ambassador for Moroccan tourism.” He added, explaining: “This image creates a direct effect: curiosity, after digital research, and after a real desire to travel to Morocco.” On the other hand, the same source confirmed that the Qatar World Cup created an unprecedented boom in the world’s interest in Morocco, as in just one month the number of searches for Morocco reached about 13 million, compared to only about 500 thousand in a normal year. Bouhout said, “These numbers show that sporting achievement is a great global curiosity.” When a country succeeds, it becomes a global event, and people have a desire to discover it: the culture, the cities, the cuisine, and the way of life.” He stressed that Morocco today is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, having reached about 20 million tourists in 2025, compared to 13 million a few years ago, with growth exceeding three times the global average. The same speaker added that Morocco is only seeking to introduce itself, but to enter a new phase of raising quality and bringing tourism with high added value.” Bouhout stressed that the American market is considered a strategic opportunity for Morocco, as American tourists spend more and want high-end tourism and deep cultural experiences. Bouhout concluded by emphasizing that the 2026 World Cup is not an isolated station, but an important episode as it is a long path that extends towards the FIFA World Cup 2030, and that the real bet is to transform this public and media momentum into a sustainable tourist flow and long-term economic investment for the benefit of Morocco.
