I greet the members of the Arab community in Canada and offer them my sincere wishes for health and wellness. I had an experience in Canada and had the honor of communicating with a group of members of the Arab community there. 

First, we welcome Mr. Tariq Sadiq, Director of Strategy and Cooperation from the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport, and Social Economy .. Welcome to this meeting addressed to the members of the Arab community in Canada to highlight tourism in Morocco.
Thank you and welcome to the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport, and Social Economy. We thank you for this opportunity to communicate with the members of the Arab community in Canada in general and to share some information and updates regarding the tourism sector in Morocco. 
As you know, stable and safe tourism today represents a fundamental source of national income for many countries around the world. How do you see this in relation to Morocco?
Thanks to security, stability, and the qualifications that Morocco has, it has become for several years a global tourist destination that is renowned, significant, and distinctive. This has made tourism in Morocco one of the main drivers and influences of the economy in general and of economic, social, and regional development in Morocco. As you know, Morocco for several years has been the leading tourist destination in Africa in terms of the number of incoming tourists; at the end of 2019, we recorded more than 13 million tourists or visitors.
On what basis was this classification made, and is there anything that distinguishes Morocco to be at the forefront of tourist countries in the African continent?
It is a classification carried out by the World Tourism Organization, and Morocco has held the rank of the number one tourist destination in Africa for several years. As I mentioned, the qualifications Morocco possesses have given us this status: clean and beautiful beaches, mountains, deserts, valleys, a friendly and hospitable people.
Regarding antiquities, it's countless: Morocco has more than 31 old cities, more than 9 archaeological sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, and more than 1500 historical monuments across the kingdom. All these qualifications make Morocco a focus of interest for many tourists who have a passion for cultural, marine, or leisure areas.
 Our country also features mild weather throughout the year. All these qualifications have contributed to placing Morocco at the forefront. This large number of incoming tourists to Morocco undoubtedly has a positive impact on the economic wheel generally. In 2019, the revenue was around 8 billion dollars from hard currency tourism revenues, which is very important for the economy in our country. The tourism sector directly and continuously employs more than 550,000 people and more than two million people directly and indirectly. The tourism sector contributes more than 7% of the gross domestic product, and all of these indicators make tourism in Morocco a very important sector that we are proud of and strive to develop. 
With the immense concerns currently due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus in many countries, has this affected foreign tourism in Morocco?
This question is very important because the global situation regarding the Coronavirus represents a global case affecting approximately 110 countries. For us, the primary importance is to maintain the safety and health of citizens in general. Tourists, all workers in hotels, hotel establishments, restaurants, and all sectors related to tourism are given this primary attention. The government has put in place a set of precautionary and preventive measures, such as enhancing capacities and procedures at airports and border points to verify the health status of passengers and to strengthen communication with citizens and society in general. There are direct communications between officials in Morocco's health sector and the World Health Organization. 
Thanks to God, the situation in Morocco is stable and safe. Since late January, the ministry has established a vigilance and follow-up cell comprising ministry members across the kingdom who work closely with company owners and tourism sector professionals and conduct daily monitoring of developments. There is daily communication with officials in the Ministry of Health to ensure that everything is okay.
Apart from the topic of Coronavirus and its impact and the fears it has caused, there are other concerns about security threats, terrorism, and the like. We know that Morocco is a safe and stable country, but there are always genuine fears among tourists regarding these terrorist threats. Are there measures Morocco takes to make the tourist environment safe and encouraging to attract tourists?
Thanks to God and the wise policy of King Mohammed VI, may God protect him, at all levels, especially at the security level, Morocco is known as a safe and stable country, open in terms of coexistence between peoples and all religions, and it is a hospitable country by nature of its people who enjoy generous hospitality. However, the issue of terrorism remains a global issue, and no country is immune to these threats. The situation remains stable thanks to the efforts of the security and intelligence bodies which I salute from this platform for the role they play and their proactive steps to counter any threat to secure the country and its people.
I would also like to talk about the importance of the tourism aspect because the beauty of tourism is that it is the best tool for rapprochement and understanding among peoples, civilizations, and religions. Morocco has an asset in this field. Among the qualities mentioned is its openness to different cultures and religions. We want the tourist, when he comes to Morocco, not to be just an ordinary visitor but to live a life experience, to come and discover Morocco with all its components, its people, traditions, and civilization, so that he has a comprehensive idea about Morocco during his stay and becomes our ambassador in his country.
I understand from what you have said that Morocco is considered an inspiring model for the world through the coexistence that exists among various beliefs and cultures?
Yes, this is something recognized by the international and global community thanks to the vision and efforts of King Mohammed VI in this field. I think Morocco will continue to advance in this field and make coexistence and dialogue with others a fundamental pillar in all fields.
As I understood from you before this meeting, you have a life experience in Canada. From this context, what would you like to say to the members of the Arab community in Canada to encourage them about tourism in Canada?
First, I greet them from your platform and offer them my sincere wishes for health and wellness. I had an experience in Canada and had the honor of communicating with a group of members of the Arab community. I invite them, knowing their love for discovery, adventure, and travel, and I tell them that Morocco is a destination blessed by God with many qualifications that can meet your desires and requests. We have beautiful beaches, mountains for skiing or climbing, in addition to a deep cultural heritage. You can also live a complete life experience. This is an open and public invitation to all members of the Arab community to visit Morocco, and I wish them a successful visit and to be our ambassadors and share their experience with their colleagues.
Thank you, Mr. Tariq, for this meeting, and I wish you all the best.