The Regional Investment Center launches a new generation of projects to unlock territorial potential and drive regional growth
The Fès-Meknès region continues to strengthen its position as one of Morocco’s most promising investment destinations by launching a new wave of tourism projects. The Regional Investment Center (CRI) has issued two calls for projects to develop seven strategic tourism investments across the provinces of Boulemane, Taounate, Taza, El Hajeb and Sefrou. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance the region’s attractiveness, diversify its tourism offering and create new economic opportunities throughout its territory.
The objective is to move beyond the region’s best-known destinations, such as the UNESCO-listed Medina of Fez and the thermal resort of Moulay Yacoub, by unlocking the untapped potential of rural areas, mountain landscapes and natural heritage sites. Through these projects, the region aims to promote a sustainable tourism model built on authenticity, cultural identity and environmental preservation.
The planned investments cover several high-potential segments, including tourist accommodation, ecotourism, rural tourism, leisure facilities and the enhancement of natural and cultural heritage. This approach responds to the growing domestic and international demand for authentic, immersive and sustainable travel experiences.
Among the flagship projects is a three-star tourist residence in Kissane, Taounate Province, designed in the traditional Jbala architectural style while meeting modern hospitality standards. In Taza Province, an eco-lodge will be developed near the Chaâra Cave, one of the region’s most remarkable natural attractions, with the ambition of positioning the site as a destination for nature-based tourism, hiking and outdoor activities.
In Sidi Youssef Ben Ahmed, Sefrou Province, a state-owned site will host a new high-value tourism complex designed to enrich the regional tourism offering. Additional projects are planned in Boulemane and El Hajeb, where new tourism infrastructure will help stimulate local economies, encourage private investment and expand visitor experiences.
This new phase follows an initial call for projects that resulted in the selection of six tourism investments worth nearly MAD 124 million, expected to generate 164 direct jobs. These encouraging results have reinforced the Regional Investment Center’s commitment to accelerating the development of a more inclusive and geographically balanced tourism industry.
Part of a broader regional investment strategy
The launch of these seven projects is not an isolated initiative. It forms part of a comprehensive regional strategy led by the Regional Investment Center to position Fès-Meknès among Morocco’s most competitive investment destinations.
This momentum was highlighted during the recent meeting of the CRI’s Board of Directors, chaired by Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence and Public Policy Evaluation. The meeting confirmed the region’s strong economic performance. Since the beginning of the year, approved investment projects have reached MAD 16.7 billion, representing an impressive 91% increase compared with 2024. Once implemented, these projects are expected to create more than 16,000 jobs.
These achievements are supported by an ambitious territorial development policy. The Regional Investment Center is overseeing the creation of six new industrial zones, the expansion of Agropolis Meknès, the development of a 100-hectare Industrial Acceleration Zone, and a series of reforms aimed at improving the business environment. As a result, the average processing time for investment applications has been reduced to 7.8 days, placing the region among Morocco’s top-performing investment destinations.
Within this favorable ecosystem, the new tourism projects complement a broader economic transformation. They reinforce tourism’s role as a strategic pillar of regional growth alongside industry, agriculture, logistics and services.
Their impact is expected to extend well beyond the hospitality sector. The projects will stimulate handicrafts, restaurants, cooperatives, transport services, local commerce and leisure activities while creating sustainable employment opportunities and generating new sources of income for local communities.
By combining productive investment, modern infrastructure and the enhancement of its natural and cultural assets, Fès-Meknès is steadily building a more balanced and sustainable development model. Through these seven new projects, the Regional Investment Center further consolidates its role as a key driver of regional economic transformation and an essential contributor to Morocco’s National Investment Strategy, implemented under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
