Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou visited Sunday the Kerzner International Limited's tourism resort "Atlantis" in Bahamas during his tour to Central America, reported MAP news agency.
The Prime Minister inspected different structures of the resort and was given explanations about this mega project, which attracts annually two million tourists from all over the world, particularly from Mexico's gulf and the USA.
The Kerzner International Limited group is also in charge of the construction of the Mazagan centre in al Jadida province, as part of the Plan Azur.
In his statement to the first Moroccan national TV channel, Jettou said that this visit aims at having an idea of what the Mazagan resort will be like. Its construction will start next summer.
"The creation of this centre aims at boosting development in Azemmour and al Jadida region and creating a new tourism pole in Morocco," said the Prime Minister.
An agreement between the Moroccan government and the Kerzner International Limited group over the Mazagan Station project was signed in July 2004. The project is estimated to cost approximately MAD 5.3 billion.
Magazan centre, which covers about 500 ha, will globally comprise 8,000 beds. It will also include animation as well as commercial and entertainment equipments.
The resort will be constructed in three stages. The first will need an estimated MAD 2.4 billion, and hotels will open in August 2007.
The Kerzner International Limited Company is a leader in the development of tourism resorts. It owns nearly 70% of the Bahamas' Paradise Island, home to its Atlantis casino-resort.
Kerzner owns the One&Only Ocean Club in Nassau, Bahamas, has stakes in five resorts in Mauritius and owns 50% of the One&Only Palmilla resort in Baja, Mexico.
It also manages the One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai and is planning a second Atlantis resort there. The group also plans to develop and manage a luxury hotel in South Africa and a leisure complex in the UK.
© Morocco Times 2006
