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Morocco records unprecedented 2.9m tourist visits in Q1 2023

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The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Handicraft and Social and Solidarity, on Thursday, announced an unprecedented increase in tourists arriving the country after a long lull occasioned by the impact of the global pandemic two years ago.

The Ministry said it recorded an impressive 2.9 million tourists in the first quarter of 2023, a figure which indicates that the North African country is one of the most attractive tourism sites on the continent.

According to the ministry, the recent tourist arrivals represent an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2019.

Data compiled by the ministry attributed the upward trend to the growth in outbound tourism markets including the Spanish, British, Italian and American markets which have grown by 45%, 28%, 9% and 5% respectively, it said.

Tourism in Morocco continues its rise to levels never seen before, as evidenced by the exceptional figures recorded at the end of March 2023,” the ministry reported in its statement.

“Recalling the various initiatives it carried out with Morocco’s National Tourism Office (ONMT) to boost tourism, the Ministry vowed to redouble efforts toward improving marketing and reinforcing air connectivity throughout 2023.

“ONMT seeks to position Morocco among the world’s Top 10 destinations through its newly developed 2023-2026 action plan called “Light in Action.

“The office’s action plan focuses on improving four pillars which are marketing, airline, digital, and distribution, while tourism office’s action plan is part of Morocco’s 2023-2026 tourism roadmap, which was launched on March 17 by Tourism Minister Fatim Zahra Ammor.

“The roadmap aims to attract 17.5 million tourists and create 200,000 new jobs by 2026,” it added.

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Culture

Ghanaians react angrily as American video vixen Rubi Rose tours Jubilee House

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Some Ghanaians have been outraged following a tour of the Jubilee House, the country’s seat of government, by American entertainer and video vixen, Rubi Rose.

The visit and tour of the Jubilee House by the controversial vixen, rapper, and OnlyFans content creator who arrived in Ghana on Thursday, October 31, 2024, sparked outrage and angry reactions among Ghanaians on social media who questioned the rationale behind the visit.

The American star was a special guest for a Halloween party in Accra and during her stay, was granted access to the Jubilee House, where she met with Nadia Adongo Musah, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, and was given a tour of the premises.

Photos of Rose’s visit to the Jubilee House circulated on social media, prompting discontent among Ghanaians, who questioned why someone with her background was allowed into the Jubilee House, also known as Flagstaff House, which holds significant historical and symbolic value as the seat of Ghana’s presidency.

Some angry Ghanaians took to social media to voice out their discontents.

A X user with the handle @fanti_boy wrote:

“Is this really Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana?”

Another user, @_blacksnow09, said:

“Foreigners have more access to the presidential residence than citizens.”

@CopsonClaude commented:

“The Jubilee House is now Oasis Lounge.”

@PositiveAt59011 said:

“Please, is the place a hotel where Americans do lodge in?”

@DanQuaye22 said:

“They told the citizens Flagstaff House is a security zone, but see who has easy access.”

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Culture

Mauritius bans access to social media until after elections

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The Mauritius government has placed a blanket ban on access to social media websites ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled to hold on November 10.

The ban, which was announced on Friday by the country’s national communications regulator, will be in force until November 11, the day after the election.

“The ICT Authority wishes to inform the public that in response to concerns regarding illegal postings that constitute a serious threat to national security and public safety, it has received directives in the evening of 31 October 2024, to direct all Internet Service Providers to temporarily suspend access to all social media platforms until 11 November 2024”, the Information and Communication Technology Authority said on Friday.

The move which came amid a wiretapping scandal in the Indian Ocean nation, has however, raised concerns as opposition parties and prominent figures have a ploy by the governing party to avoid defeat at the polls.

Local media say the unprecedented social media ban follows a wiretapping scandal which rocked the country last month when recorded conversations of politicians, business people, and members of civil society were leaked on social media.

According to media freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the recorded conversations of five well-known journalists were leaked published on social media, prompting the ban.

“The government of the Indian Ocean Island country, which has a population of 1.2 million, has claimed that these leaks are a threat to national security and instructed the communications authority to suspend all access to social media,” the RWB said in a statement.

In response to the bank, network service provider, EMTEL, said it would comply with the directive and user experience will be “progressively disrupted”.

“EMTEL understands the inconvenience that this action shall cause to its customers but reiterates that it has no alternative other than to comply with ICTA directive,” the company said.

Local media also quoted a statement from the office of the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, who is seeking a second term in power, as saying that the suspension of social media was essential to protect national security and the country’s integrity.

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