Tetouan Or Saidia

[Jesus of nazareth]

Investment Brief for Morocco

[redangel7861]

JESUS.

Thanks for the link. May I ask why you are so against the Saidia development. Do you have knowledege of the area?? Terrorism is something that will effect all of us. I work in the City of London (square mile), at first it was the IRA then Al-Queda. If it's not one thing then it's another. People just get on with their lives.

I'm sure as the resort develops so will the travel infrastructure. Out of all of the plan Azur projects, Saidia is by far the largest and the one that will have most of the marketing budget and Kings weight behind it. I believe it will become the Jewel of Morocco.

Again it's all about opinions, and all opinions are welcome.

[Jesus of nazareth]

I'm not against it, but I don't think it will be as popular as investors are hoping. I base this on three things.

1. Too far out of the way. People will want to experience Morocco when they visit, otherwise they may as will go anywhere with these facilities for a holiday.

2. Too near Algeria.

3. This is probably the most important and has been the least talked about. The southern resorts stay warm and sunny all year round, this is why the likes of Tenerife are so popular, although I'm not suggesting that I would holiday there. The winter beach holiday is a huge factor and is something you will get in southern Morocco but not in Saidia.

[redangel7861]

Again you raise some valid points.

In my opinion Saidia will cater more for the afluent European market (facilaties included will back me up on that). Areas like Tangiers and Tetouan is more geared towards the Moroccan market. Hence, in my opinion capital appreciation in these locations will be restricted to the income and spending power of the middle class Moroccan. Saidia, being geared towards the European market, where the average person has more wealth, will thus have the potential to increase in value at much higher rates. As it begins to compete with the international holiday destinations, the wealthy from around the world be be attracted to Saidia, more so that the over built locations of Tetouan and Tangier. The other Azur projects are also great, but I don't believe they will have the appeal of Saidia.

[redangel7861]

Tangiers - Tangiers was pinning it's hopes on capturing the Expo 2012. Before the decision I had reserved an apartment on the Tangier Boulavard project (as had many others). After Tangeir lost the bid there were multiple cancellations on many apartments in the region. I am tempted by the cosmopolitan nature of the city, but am wary that the area will be over developed (having the Dubai effect). I am considering investing in ane w 5* city/beach front development with an artificial lake in Tangiers (released yesterday). So my choices are Saidia - 5* 2 bed Front life golf or Tangier - 5* 2 bed city/beach apartments. I know the population has gone up 400% in Tangiers over the past decade and that international business is moving into the areas, so both propositions seem tempting. Tangeirs is probably more low risk as it is already a developed market. Siaidia, higher risk but if it takes off wil be explosive.

Decisions...Decisions....

[Investy]

Red

I did carefully consider the Plan Azure resort 'Port Lixus' at Larache on the Atlantic. It will have extensive facilities and be aimed very much at the upper end according to my research in 06/07. At the time of checking the prices seemed higher on a like for like basis.

I opted for Saidia as there are more facilities, a much better marina and it's in the Med' which I prefer personally given the warmer, calmer sea and less wind.


Jesus - it's obvious the budget airline's will fly to Oujda, at the very least the King will ensure this even if it requires sweeteners. He would'nt have commisioned a complete overhaul and massive extension to 25 hubs and brand new connecting road without good reason, not to mention the extensive modernisation of the town of Saidia.

It is reasonable to suppose the 11 international hotel brands will have done thier homework in this regard.
Even without budget airlines I believe the development will be a sucess.


Algeria / Terrorism; Of course I realised at the very outset, the proximity needed consideration. In the end I consider the risk to be low. People after the London bombings said Brit terrorists would attack swimming pools and other UK soft targets. It would appear these sentiments were overdone as is always the case with pessimistic thinkers.
Motivated terrorists have had ample opportunity in Dubai to attack Westerners in thier midst yet so far nothing. Same goes for countless other locations around the world. There has been ample soft target opportunity in Tunisia for example.

Muslim people are turning thier backs on extremists, even Hisbollah are getting increasingly chill sentiment from the Palenstinian populace.
Fundamentalist old men with beards, biggotry and myths bring thier people nothing but misery. They do not put food on the people's tables, they do not bring natural justice for women, they do not build schools and hospitals. Extremeists merely offer division, oppresion, yet supreme privelege's for men (able to whore thier daughters at age 10 for money as shown on BB2 recently), just because they are. err, men!
These extremists have nothing to offer the muslim majority and will not prevail.


I, like most people just get on with life and have no time to sit about wringing my hands over something that is thousands of times less likely than a Human being struck by lightening.

If it happens, so be it. Life goes on and people will continue to holiday there just as they did in Turkey and Egypt after attacks. It would appear the public have short memories. You know I find many people are not even aware of the worldwide credit crunch!

[Investy]

Jesus

I had considered the warmer weather of the more Southerly developments, however the flip side is that they can get hotter in summer, perhaps too hot for comfort.

Portugal is pretty chilly and damp in winter yet some golf developments still remain busy. Saidia will certainly offer warmer winter weather than Portugal so I think the balance all round is about right.

The isolation factor again is a benefit and in any event Ive been on Moroccan forums where Moroccans themselves say there ios plenty to see in the general area and Saidia town is going through a renaisance and provide enough culture (probably faux to an extent) for the average tourist. Lets face it many of us have done the trecking round castles and markets bit many times, and quiet often what you really desire is rest and pampering rather than gazing at the attempts of past ego maniancs to leave thier mark on the world.

For me in any event our real heritage is the natural world not piles of bricks or recent 'Human' history as we have only been around less than 1% of Earths age. My atoms are merely coallescing as me for a temporary period. In the past they will have coalasced into other organisms - I'm interestd in studying this above else.