Project Background; “La La in, Loubar”, Chefchaouen, North Morocco.
Just a quick word of introduction…this entry might be a bit long, but bear with it…or enjoy a regular and associated film from youtube…one free with every entry…try and guess the link?
Anyway here’s a bit of background….After approximately 10 years working in international public health, I decided to settle in Morocco, a country I have known and loved since first visiting in 1985. 2008 saw the start of the rebuilding of two 300 year old houses that are now a “Boutique Riad”, Dar Finn , in Fez medina, the story of which is told in a previous blog
Dar Finn has been open since 2011 and is currently doing well on Trip Advisor as well as getting some decent press coverage. New York Times, Conde Naste, Get Lost Magazine Issue 38.
However my long term plan is to develop an integrated tourism package in the currently lesser known north of Morocco, that includes an Imperial City (Fez), mountains (the Riff Mountains, where Chefchaouen is) and an as yet un identified water location. This may be on either coast, Mediterranean or Atlantic, or on one of the various lakes in the region.
The next phase is the development of an eco/responsible “glamping” tourism project outside of Chefchaouen, a relatively well developed but low key tourism location in the Riff mountains and only 45 minutes to an idyllic, relatively unspoilt north African Mediterranean coast and nestled close to the stunning Talassemtane National Park
Here I have around 1.5 hectares of south facing land with approximately 200 trees, 3 wells surrounded by mountains and bordered on either side by a seasonal water fall and bathing pool and a 700 year old rural mosque.
My idea is to use tourism as a dynamo that mixes entrepreneurialism and socio economic development, to combine tourism, perma culture and “glamping”, including the use of renewable and recyclable resources through for example, composting (ecosan) latrines, rain and grey water harvesting, use of solar energy both for electricity and cooking and to act as a model for improved rural resource practice linked to both resource regeneration and climate change mitigation.
In addition I have identified various local/rural activities that can be given financial and cultural value through their development as “tourism products”. These include; cookery courses, bread making, olive oil, cheese and honey production where tourists can come and master these local skills surrounded by beautiful countryside and under an ever hospitable Berber guidance.
Building on the success of my tour company Tours Around Fez cited by the Lonely Planet as “a must to do” whilst in Fez, I also hope to offer pop up picnics, romantic hidden away rural dining experiences and walking tours in the Riff Mountains, an area of stunning natural beauty.
The intention as stated above, based upon my experiences in rural development throughout Africa, is to use rural tourism as a dynamo for local community development and entrepreneurial endeavour. Rural “agro – tourism” products will be valued to divide profits 3 ways; to the local village “service providers”, ourselves and in to a “community chest” which will be used to fund local activities prioritised through community mobilisation, problem/solution analysis, which is part and parcel of my work in public health/community development….well that’s the idea anyway!
The farm/glamping ground, will also act as a means to model perma culture and renewable resource usage, and thus to act as a means of north/south educational exchange.
As such visitors will be able to actively engage in a tourism model that provides value and funding to community development through their engagement in “normal” local activities, whilst at the same time having a unique holiday experience. This is participatory tourism acting as a dynamo for community development within social entrepreneurial model, thus supporting financial, social and personal profit.
The farm is divided in to two parts and initially I expect to have 4/5 Bell tents or yurts in the larger upper field, followed by 2/3 others in the lower field. Additionally I have a 5m yurt and a ruin that will be rebuilt using funding from the success of this project and using local building materials and traditional (pise) techniques supplemented by “Wwoofers” and “work aways” exchanging work experience for board and lodging.
Following research with tourists at Dar Finn and in various other Fez based riads, I believe rural/eco tourism is a significant gap in the tourism market in Morocco generally and northern Morocco specifically.
Following the heightened interest in “glamping” in Europe and responsible tourism globally, I feel there is a great opportunity to develop and extend the success of Dar Finn in to the countryside.
Let’s see what happens….fingers crossed. Px