Essaouira, also known locally as the "City of Winds," has increasingly attracted water sports enthusiasts in addition to its cultural and heritage tourism. This change is due to the unique characteristic of its warm waters and almost constant winds. Historically, Essaouira, located 457 kilometers south of Rabat by the Atlantic Ocean, was known as Mogador, derived from the Phoenician word "Mikdol," meaning small fortress. The city is famous for its ramparts, historical buildings, and its traditional harbor dating back to the 18th century.
Essaouira has always been an inspiration for Moroccan and international artists, particularly in painting and the African-rooted "Gnaoua" music, which hosts the annual Gnaoua World Festival. The city has begun to attract an increasing number of surfers and other water sports enthusiasts, especially windsurfing, due to its unique climate characterized by winds that rarely calm down in summer. Alongside Essaouira, the city of Dakhla, with its bay extending into the desert, competes for this type of sports. However, tourists prefer Essaouira due to its proximity to major Moroccan tourist destinations like Marrakech and Agadir.
Abdelkarim Mazen, a water sports instructor at a club facing Essaouira's beach, stated, "Tourists come to Essaouira to enjoy its sun and winds that encourage water sports." He added, "What attracts tourists even more is the low prices for learning and practicing these sports here, especially windsurfing, which only exists in Essaouira and Dakhla. Other sports, like surfing, can be practiced at all Moroccan beaches, but Essaouira's near-constant winds and its rock-free waters make it the ideal place for these activities."
Mohsen Amalous, another water sports instructor, mentioned that "foreigners are more inclined towards water sports, in contrast to a limited number of Moroccans." He noted that tourists primarily come from Agadir and Marrakech to engage in this hobby. Most tourists are French, English, and some Germans. Trainers mentioned that the cost of practicing surfing under the supervision of clubs in Essaouira’s bay ranges between 350 and 400 dirhams (about 40 dollars) for two hours, while windsurfing costs around 1200 dirhams, and training for these sports is available year-round.
A French tourist named Moutard shared, "I had heard a lot about the beautiful weather in the city, which is conducive to water sports due to the constant winds, so I wanted to have a personal experience." After arriving at Marrakech Airport and visiting some of the city's tourist attractions, he mentioned, "I wanted to go to the nearest beach to Marrakech, and Essaouira was it, as I am a fan of swimming and windsurfing."
Moroccan tourism expert Zoubeir Bouhout told Reuters, "This type of sports is very important for attracting tourists to Essaouira, but we must not forget that Essaouira is also a destination for cultural tourism, especially the Gnaoua Festival, which has given it significant tourist visibility, along with the Jewish heritage present in the city." Bouhout highlighted the increase in tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2023, noting that Essaouira Airport welcomed 41,000 passengers compared to 25,000 in 2019. He pointed out that the airport recently connected to several tourist destinations, including Tel Aviv.
The number of overnight stays in the city in the first six months of this year rose to 288,000, an increase of 17 percent compared to 2019. The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism has developed a plan to boost the tourism sector, especially after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, allocating a budget of over two billion dirhams for an emergency plan and implementing parallel measures like enhancing air transport and introducing an electronic visa. Bouhout said, "In my opinion, it is essential to maintain Essaouira's tourist touch and to benefit from the Ministry of Tourism's plan for sector development."
As for the wind, some instructors and water sports club owners have expressed concern about the impact of climate changes on Essaouira's weather. They noted that these changes have not only resulted in a decrease in rainfall, as is the case across the country, which is experiencing drought and lower rainfall for the second consecutive year but have also affected the winds. They reported either a "complete absence" of winds at times, such as in the second half of June when the weather was clear and calm—a rare occurrence for that time of year—or strong winds that made practicing water sports dangerous, as was the case in late July and early August.
Abdullah Al-Habshi, the owner of a sports club, remarked, "The winds are not what they used to be; they were almost absent in June and July, which is unusual for us, but they returned strongly in late July and early August." He added, "Despite that, we have seen an increase in interest in these sports, both from foreigners and Moroccans who are increasingly turning to them." Trainer Mazen concluded, "The weather has changed, and we find ourselves hoping for favorable conditions to conduct our activities."
