Salima Haddour, Director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office in France

What are the advantages of southern Morocco for incentives?

Salima Haddour - First and foremost, it's a destination very close to Europe, with good air links, a temperate climate all year round and, of course, the cultural and historical wealth of the whole of Morocco. In terms of infrastructure, the offer is of a high standard, and is tending to diversify in certain destinations, such as the Ouarzazate plateau in particular, where a charming hotel industry is developing in old restored kasbahs.

What about activities specific to the South?

S. H. - In this region, we emphasise the cultural, with the rural traditions of the hinterland, as well as the desert, as far as Dakhla, with activities such as quad biking, but also water sports like surfing and kite surfing. The originality of this remote coastal south lies in its ambivalence: the desert expanse and a wild coastline battered by the rollers of the ocean. The region lends itself perfectly to bivouac holidays.

How is the incentive market doing?

S. H. - These are promising beginnings. For the moment, the two destinations that are capturing most of the market are obviously Marrakech and Agadir, because of their capacity and the level of their infrastructures.

What is the region's flagship project?

S. H. - In the immediate future, the development of Ouarzazate as an incentive destination in its own right, with charming hotels, a real cultural asset and the ability to experience the desert...

The government's 'Azur' plan calls for the creation of six seaside resorts by 2010 to cater for 10 million tourists... Are we to fear a violent urbanisation of the coastline?

S. H. - We are extremely aware of this pitfall: the various development plans insist that each of these stations is consistent with its environment. There's no question of concreting all over the place.