As part of the IZURAN ODYSSEY project, implemented under the Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI), a new training session on Tourist Guiding and Animation was held on Sunday, 09 November 2025, in Al-Hoceima National Park, one of the BTI pilot sites in Morocco.

This training brought together local tourism actors dedicated to advancing sustainable and responsible tourism in a region renowned for its exceptional natural and cultural richness.

Participants explored:

• The fundamentals of tourist guiding, emphasising the essential role of guides as interpreters of local heritage and stewards of visitor experience;

• Cultural and nature-based tourist animation, designed to offer visitors authentic, meaningful, and environmentally responsible experiences.

Taking place in the heart of the national park, the session transformed nature into a “living classroom,” offering hands-on learning directly connected to the landscapes, biodiversity, and community values of Al-Hoceima.

This training marks another significant step in preparing engaged and environmentally aware guides—future guardians of Morocco’s coastal and marine heritage. By investing in local capacity, the IZURAN ODYSSEY project supports a tourism model that fosters conservation, community well-being, and sustainability within the park and beyond.

A warm thank you to our partners for their collaboration and continued support:
Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts – Maroc, UICN España, Intrepid Travel, Fonds français pour l’environnement mondial (FFEM), MADAËF, Ministère du Tourisme, de l’Artisanat et de l’Économie Sociale et Solidaire, Centre Régional d’Investissement Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, and Visit Morocco.

Together, we are shaping a future where tourism contributes meaningfully to the preservation and appreciation of Al-Hoceima National Park and Morocco’s broader coastal and marine heritage.