The Tangier City Port reconversion, from 2011 to 2016, transformed the Moroccan city into a flagship destination for sustainable cruise tourism on an international scale. So far in 2024, the Port of Tangier has received 104,000 cruise passengers. Nowadays, this is a bustling hub for cruise ships, welcoming vessels from various destinations.
The reconversion project, which affected over 84 hectares of the port area, was specially designed to integrate the port in the city landscape and to minimize the environmental impact. Since the development of this project and its recent active participation in the ECO-CRUISING FU_TOUR Project, the Tangier City Port has paved the way for an environmentally friendly cruise sector, becoming a referent for other Mediterranean ports. Meetings with public and private key players in this sector have been held at the Tangier City Port to actively contribute to sustainable tourism.
One of the main goals was to contribute to the local economy and job creation while protecting the environment and fostering sustainable practices. To achieve this objective, several initiatives have been launched from the renewal of the port area: investments in infrastructures and logistics to connect this port with the main ports from Africa and Europe -enhancing their regional, national and international connectivity-, tourism diversification by fostering cultural and events offer, implementing new technologies to improve efficiency and competitiveness, offering the best services to cruise companies, promoting the history and culture of the city -ensuring the integration and development of the historic neighborhood of the medina and its tourist coastline-.
In addition, the new passenger terminal at the Tangier City Port has been thoughtfully designed to cater to both cruise ships and fast ferries. To accommodate the grandest cruise vessels, three new berths have been specifically designated for cruise activities, with the most extensive berth stretching an impressive 360 meters in length. The passenger terminal at the port area represents a commitment to providing a world-class experience for cruise passengers, with modern amenities, safety measures, and the capacity to handle some of the largest cruise ships, further establishing Tangier as a prominent destination in the Mediterranean cruise circuit.
Engaging Moroccan culture through traditional food
“Bringing the sea to the city” and “uniting the port with the city” were the two main ideas of this project which has positioned Tangier as one of the major tourists, cultural, and events destination in the Mediterranean. Proof of this is the successful initiative known as the Blue Door Cuisine, a cooking experience designed to give tourists an opportunity to engage culture through food in life-transforming ways while offering an unforgettable customer experience. The setting is an historic art-deco flat located between the City Port and the Old City Gran Socco. A team of locals warmly and skillfully welcomes and leads each visitor through every step in the preparation of a Moroccan meal. The experience highlights Morocco’s famed tea ceremony, bread-making, as well as an experience leader-guided tour to the public oven and spice shop. This environmentally friendly initiative, which contributed to the success of Tangier as a cruise destination, is based on different eco-tourism principles:
- “Staying local”: Almost entirely local produce, fish and meats purchased daily at the nearby public market (shopping is zero carbon).
- Proximity: Transfers from the port leave a zero-carbon footprint.
- Social impact: High value on authentic exchange with local women and guest engagement through food, bread, and tea preparation.
- Economic impact: Employees rewarded fairly in term of wages and benefits as 1-2 jobs are created every quarter.
- Recycling-consciousness: On food waste and plastic recycling.
- Promotion of the culture and history of the city: Promotion of local artisans and local shops. The proximity of the medina is a great opportunity to encourage cultural tourism.
- Community engagement: Commitment to volunteering through local NGOs
The ambitious smart city project in Tangier
The reconversion of the Tangier City Port is not the only initiative to make this city a destination for the green economy and sustainable tourism. In 2022, Moroccan authorities signed a framework agreement for the realization of the well-known ‘Cité Mohamed VI Tanger Tech’ in the Tangier – Tetouan – Al Hoceima region. This infrastructure will be delivered by 2033 and will cover an area of 2,167 hectares. According to the Moroccan authorities, an industrial acceleration zone (ZAI) will also be built on 947 hectares to house numerous infrastructures such as residential, tourist and leisure complexes. The project will also enable the digital transformation of the city of Tangier through cutting-edge technologies on an area of 1,220 hectares intended for the development of a smart city. This project will make Morocco and the city of Tangier a key hub between Europe and Africa by supporting the national industry strategy to revolutionize Morocco’s economic landscape.