Foreign tourists are flocking to the narrow streets, markets and artisan workshops of Fez el-Bali as the autumn tourist season gathers pace, with most riads and traditional guesthouses reporting full occupancy, according to a local guide.
Visitors interviewed by Le360 during a tour of the old medina spoke of the city’s historic buildings, traditional crafts and the hospitality of its residents, with some returning after years away and others discovering Fez for the first time.
For Nicole, a French visitor who lived in Morocco for nearly 45 years before returning to France, the trip was something of a homecoming.
“I left my heart here,” she said, recalling the medina’s bustling streets, spice markets and craft workshops.
Her companion, Jean-Pierre, said the city’s everyday sights and sounds were what made each return visit worthwhile.
Australian tourist Judith Sears, visiting Fez el-Bali for the first time, said she had been exploring its historic madrasas and museums and was particularly impressed by the welcome she received from local residents.
Max, a visitor from Switzerland, was likewise struck by the medina’s architectural heritage and the different influences that have shaped the city’s history.
The increase in visitors has brought brisk business for traditional accommodation establishments, according to Fez tour guide Ismail Jahoun.
He said tourist activity had picked up sharply at the beginning of October, helped by mild weather that makes walking tours of the medina more comfortable.
سحر فاس البالي يغري سياح العالم. Le360
Most riads and traditional guesthouses were operating at full capacity, he said, with strong demand for overnight stays.
Jahoun expects the busy period to continue until late December, as foreign visitors keep arriving to explore the city’s historic sites and traditional crafts.
