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Six weekly flights will be in the programme of that new link, while daily flights are billed during the summer holidays, as the company hopes to take advantage of the movement of thousands of Moroccans back to their country every summer.

With only about 25 Euro for a one-way trip, the company hopes to position itself as a leader for that destination inasmuch as the majority of the 600.000 Moroccan nationals living in Spain are from northern Morocco.

The British company has been operating for nine months between Madrid and the Moroccan cities of Casablanca (central) and Marrakech (south).

In a media statement, copied to APA, the company averred that its decision is in line with the Moroccan choice to position Tangier as one of the major tourist cities in North Africa.

EasyJet underscored that it has become the leader on the Marrakech destination with 38% of the market share, ahead of the Moroccan company Royal Air-Maroc (25%) and Spanish company Iberia (24%).

As of February 2007, EasyJet conveyed 56,941 passengers between these two cities.

Due to huge demand at Playa Vista, we are delighted to announce the release of our 1 bedroom apartment selection.

With prices starting at just £39,500 for a studio-style unit, this release makes Playa Vista even more affordable for purchasers looking to invest in the regions number 1 development.

A symultaneous release of 2 bedroom units compensates for the recent limited availability and is sure to excite purchasers who may have missed the boat on earlier phases. Prices are broken down as follows:

One Bedroom Studio-Style
Ground Middle Units – from £ 49,850
Ground End Units – £ 59,950 GBP
First Middle Deluxe Units – £ 39,500GBP
First End Units – £ 59,875
Penthouse Middle Units from – £59,995
Penthouse End Units – £ 72,975

Two Bedroom Units
Ground Middle Units - £ 90,490
Ground End Units from – £ 95,990
First Middle Units £ 89,590
First End Units - £ 95,490
Penthouse Middle Units - £ 106,990
Penthouse End Units –£ 112,590

This development is accessible via the sleepy Cabo Negro boulevard, running past the lower part of the project. Immediately in front of the development, La Ferma Equestrian centre offers a bar (open all year round), restaurant, hotel and superb horse riding facilities, including beach treks and even midnight treks!

The Meridiana Restaurant is a short stroll away, arguably serving the best food for miles around. The adjoining pub is also popular. A Pizzeria and French Restaurant are within walking distance, whilst the nearby Mirador Golf development offers 2 bars, restaurant and a supermarket. Shops, banks, medical facilities, newsagents and all amenities are available in the town of M’Diq – 5 minutes drive from the development.

The development itself will comprise low-density, low-rise apartments (3 storey) set in lush tropical gardens. High standard construction will ensure that purchasers receive the best quality property. 1 & 2 bedroom apartments are available, along with luxury 1 bedroom penthouse units.

PRE-RELEASE PRICING*

• 1 bed apartments from £48,690
• 2 bed apartments from £54,683
• 1 bed penthouses from £51,686

Currently available on pre-release, the development occupies a strategic location in an elevated position, offering incredible and truly panoramic views of the Mediterranean, Cabo Negro Golf Course, the Rif Mountains (snow-capped in the winter) and the magnificent Tetouan river valley.

Above and behind the development is a large area of national parkland, on which further building is not permitted.

Here at Moroccan Properties we have found this new and exciting emerging market - Elegance Natal Golf in Brazil

Grand Natal Golf is located 16kms from the city of Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, North Eastern Brazil. The resort itself stretches across 7km of sandy beaches and owners will have use of all the facilities on site, which include five golf courses, eight hotels, an equestrian centre, the Ronaldo Football Academy, a spa and health centre with plastic surgeon, tennis courts, shopping and beach clubs. There is a new airport under construction in Natal to increase the number of tourists wishing to visit the area which will guarantee an increase in the rental potential of your property.

We can see why Ronaldo and Antonio Banderas have fallen in love with the resort and secured their home at Elegance Natal Golf. The area boasts 300 days of sunshine per year with an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. Grupo Sanchez, the developers who have many successful developments throughout Spain, have made every effort to employ staff from the region and use local building materials along with recycling where possible.

Elegance Natal Miltonia, the first phase at Grand Natal Golf, is part of a 2,000 home development of four phases, each named after a Brazilian flower – Miltonia, Galatea, Solanum and Marginata. Elegance Natal Miltonia is comprised of one, two and three bedroom apartments plus two and three bedroom penthouse apartments.

One-bedroom apartments with golf views at Elegance Natal Miltonia are available from 67,000 euros (approx. £45,000) with two-bedrooms available from 96,000 euros (approx. £65,000) – providing considerably better value than comparable resorts in Spain, Portugal and the Caribbean.

All you need to do to secure your property here is to put down 6,000 euros (12,000 euros for penthouses) reservation deposit, pay 30% less the deposit already paid, in September then nothing for two years until September 2009 when your property will be delivered.

We can also arrange for your to visit Elegance Natal golf just let us know a date that suits you. Thomson will operate direct flights from London Gatwick from November which will only take nine hours journey time. There are also daily flights via Lisbon with Air Portugal.

Price may fluctuate with currency exchange rates.

Morocco has consistently appeared in various property investment hot-spot lists and reports, and this has inevitably drawn a huge amount of interest into its property market in recent years. For this reason, the demand for some of our more popular developments has often exceeded supply. That is why we are delighted to announce resales for some of our most highly sought after developments, offering prime locations, previously unavailable or sold out units for some of our most exclusive developments. The following investment opportunities are now being offered exclusively to Moroccan Properties Ltd clients:

Domaine De L’Akhdar

Own your own piece of architectural history with this exclusive Charles Boccara boutique development. We are now offering you the opportunity to invest into his highly sought after Domaine De L’Akhdar Phase 1, the previously sold out development, with 2 of his beautiful riad style villas now available exclusively to MPL clients. Prices from 337,200 euros.
Domaine De L’Akhdar Phase 2 is due for a 10% increase on the 1st of August 2007.

Mirador Golf

With prime location next to one of Northern Morocco’s best beaches, Cabo Negro, as well as the prestigious Hawtree & Sons designed Royal Golf Club in the same area, it is easy to see why this development has been one of our more popular ones. Our exclusive, prime location resales offer sea, golf course, pool, or mountain views so there really is something to suit everyone’s taste. Prices start at £50,000.

Sania Plage

Frontline properties in this unique location, next to a cosmopolitan marina as well as the Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club are on offer at competitive prices. Combining a desirable location with high quality finish, this development guarantees a sound investment. 6 resales available, prices start from 175,000 euros

Playa Vista

The most exciting and talked about development to date in Morocco, offering cliff side apartments with guaranteed stunning 180 degree sea views of the Mediterranean.
The development is now 85% sold out, with limited stock still available. Prices start from £64,900, we have resales available from £63,500.

Moroccan Properties will be more than happy to answer any of your questions or concerns regarding purchasing a property in Morocco, feel free to contact our sales team on 0208 572 2422.

The long-awaited final decision was made on 22nd November 2006 to launch a ferry route between the Spanish Canary Island of Fuerteventura and the southern-most port of Morocco, Tarfaya. It has been announced by the autonomous government of the Canary Islands that the new route will not only transport passengers, but also goods, and is to be inaugurated no later than this summer.

Behind the often derogatory headlines about illegal trafficing of migrants from West and North-West Africa to Spanish archipelago, there also lies the fact that trade and legal traffic in persons in rapidly growing. Canarian investors and charter tourists from northern Europe are increasingly travelling to north-western Africa, while traders and shopping tourists from Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal are becoming a visible part of Canary Islands day-to-day life.

The most notable change has come in the form of much improved air connections between the Gran Canaria and north-western Africa, and the traffic of freighter ships from the Las Palmas port to Africa has grown rapidly. Passengers however have not been able to cross the narrow strait between the Spanish islands and southern Morocco - only 100 kilometres wide - by ship, until now.

Plans to make such a seaway connection were announced in Fuerteventura - the island closest to the African mainland - earlier this year. By now, the plans are so much developed that Adán Martín, President of the autonomous islands, yesterday announced that a regular ferry service between the Fuerteventura port of Puerto del Rosario and southern Moroccos Tarfaya was to commence "before next summer."

President Martín said this after holding a meeting with a representative of the Canary Islands cabinet, José Segura, the leader of the Las Palmas Port Authority, Emilio Mayoral, the island chief of Fuerteventura, Mario Cabrera, representatives of the shipping company that is to operate the route and a government workgroup that is to assure the realisation of the project.

The Canary Island government has placed much importance and prestige in the project, and Mr Martín emphasised that the ferry connection with Morocco "involves an extremely important change for the Canary Islands," which now looks to Africa for economic development. The new line, which connects the islands with the mainland following the shortest route of approximately 100 kilometres with a duration of three to four hours, was said to have "a strategic character" for the archipelago.

Mr Martín said his government was now putting pressure on the European Union (EU) - which is a major financial source of development to the islands - to rubberstamp the ferry project before the end of the year and as such secure its funding. The Canary Islands had told the EU the connection would be vital to secure more traffic in goods and persons, and as such consolidating the islands role as a popular holiday destination.

Many details of the upcoming ferry connection however still need to be elaborated. Depending on the type of vessel chosen, the journey could take anything from two and a half hour to four hours, President Martín noted.

There have long been talks of a tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar from Tangier to the southern Spanish coastline, and the country set to benefit most from this link is to be Morocco. The eventual tunnel could transform trade and commerce between Morocco, Spain and the EU. The magic of Morocco has never been closer.

Moroccan and Spanish officials have vowed to collaborate in boring a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar to link Africa and Europe.

Moroccan experts say the long-mooted 39km rail tunnel would be among the worlds most sophisticated engineering works and rival the Channel Tunnel linking England and France.

"We will deploy the necessary effort to achieve this project or at least put it on the right track," Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou said.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who completed a two-day official visit to Rabat overnight, shared Mr Jettous optimism and called the plan an "historic project".

Mr Zapatero pledged to drum up European Union support for a project he said "would change Africa and Europe".

"The fixed link would bind the African continent to Europe.

It is an ambitious project but we are sure it is within our reach," Mr Jettou said.

Moroccan authorities displayed blueprints of the project.

Engineers say one of the most daunting obstacles in building the tunnel is the seabed under the Strait of Gibraltar, which is more permeable than it is around the Channel Tunnel.

This would mean boring further down, pushing costs higher.

Neither Mr Jettou nor Mr Zapatero estimated the cost. Expert forecasts have ranged between $US7 billion ($9.1 billion) and $US17 billion ($22.09 billion).

Support for the project reflected how warm ties between Rabat and Madrid have become under Mr Zapateros Socialist government. Four cooperation accords were also signed, including one on cracking down on illegal migration of children.

Relations had soured under conservative former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar over illegal migration, drug trafficking and the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Mr Zapatero replaced Mr Aznar in 2004.

Mr Zapatero cited a 60 per cent drop in illegal migration from Morocco and increases in trade and investment as among fruits reaped from "excellent relations" between the two countries.

Spain is Moroccos second trading partner after France and its second source of foreign investment, with about 1000 Spanish companies present in sectors ranging from energy to tourism, real estate and agriculture.

You may already have heard of Morocco’s ‘Vision 2010’ – this is the vision laid out by the King of Morocco to attract 10 million visitors to the nation annually by 2010. Rest assured the country is well on the way to achieving this goal – as Morocco is just 2.5 flight hours away from the UK and even less from mainland Europe and because just this year Morocco’s open skies agreement came into force, more and more flight operators are opening up direct routes to airports in Morocco making it cheaper and easier for people to physically get to the country. This will of course push up tourism and it will mean that there is even more demand for property for sale and to rent in Morocco providing an investor with the chance to enjoy capital growth on a property investment as well as instant rental income.

The driving force behind this plan is Morocco’s relatively new King called King Mohammed VI; he ascended the throne in 1999 and is an incredibly intelligent, well educated, positive and liberal visionary who can see the inimitable potential that his nation possesses because of its climate, location, recent safety record, beauty, history, culture and natural assets.

The King of Morocco wishes to do everything he can to improve, develop and promote his country in a sustainable manner. This means that you as a property investor considering making a commitment in Morocco can rest assured that any investment made is being built on strong foundations for sustainable demand and growth in an environment conducive to investment attraction and retention. This should prove to you as an investor how serious Morocco is about achieving success in the development of its nation economically speaking, and how real estate plays such an important part in the development of the country meaning that it is likely to remain a sector well preserved and built on solid foundations.

In addition to these facts which underline the weight, strength and sustainability of the massive international investment commitment that is already active in Morocco is the fact that the King of Morocco is focusing his efforts on the development of Morocco as an attractive, safe, exciting and desirable place to live, work or holiday.

All in all Morocco, its people, its leader are committed to the creation of a nation that is highly in demand by tourists, that is popular with holiday and second home seekers, is a contender among retirees seeking a retirement location in the sun and is an economically stable country with an active and attractive property market.

There are actually few countries in the world that have so many positive factors in favour of the local investment property market – which is why we have set up an agency dedicated to bringing you the magic of Morocco.

Concerning current progress on the site, the directors of Playa Vista have said that "the project has incurred minor technical challenges that have forced additional in-depth studies to be carried out, leading to a temporary pause in construction. These challenges have now been resolved. As a consequence, we can confirm that heavy terracing equipment will be back on site by no later than 4th June 2007 at which time major progress is expected and regular pictorial updates.

Culinary and leisure facilities at Playa Vista are now being confirmed with the announcement that diners will be able to enjoy the delights of:

A Moroccan Restaurant:
Featuring Moroccan cuisine at its finest, complemented by nightly shows with traditional belly dancing, Andalusian music and plenty of atmosphere.

Indian restaurant:
Sample the delights of colourful Indian food, bursting with flavour and aroma prepared by Tandoori chefs to the highest standard. Accompanied by music from the Raj with the finest world renowned service.

Front line beach amphitheatre:
A huge open air auditorium with views over the performance area to the ocean beyond. Featuring nightly performances of live Jazz & Moroccan music plus a multitude of events throughout the season to ensure the best in high quality entertainment is always available on site.

Mediterranean Style open air food court:
Featuring a diverse selection of small stalls selling all types of fresh food, including Tapas, Grilled Sardines, Kebabs, Wraps, Ice Cream, Refreshments etc.

The Beach Club:
Prestigious and stylish, this venue will be the pinnacle of Playa Vista society featuring an exclusive open air spa, thatched roof, water features and inside: cathedral ceilings and huge glass windows with stunning views to Marina Village and the ocean beyond.

Sports bar:
With multiple plasma screen TV’s featuring all the biggest sporting events from around the world including the best of the UK Premiership and other football leagues. Stocked with the finest selection of local and imported beers, great pub food and an extensive selection of pub games including pool, snooker & darts.

Never a truer word spoken for those lucky purchasers at Morocco’s Playa Vista, development at the site has begun in earnest.

The work is being carried out by STAM, the largest site contractors in Morocco. STAM will be drawing on years of expertise in the construction industry to ensure that the site progresses on schedule and that the high quality of construction will boost the value of purchasers’ properties.

Playa Vista has already caused a stir amongst savvy investors and lifestyle purchasers due to its strategic hillside location. The project is FRONT LINE BEACH, guaranteeing lifetime ocean views for most properties. On site facilities will include top class restaurants, bars, boutiques, shops and sports facilities.

The true highlight of the Playa Vista development will be its private marina, an ambitious feat of engineering which will further raise the development’s profile and value. Purchasers will surely enjoy the breathtaking views, evening quayside strolls and those long, lazy days spent basking in the sunshine at Playa Vista’s secluded beach.

The only question is, have you bought YOUR slice of paradise yet?

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more luxurious, Playa Vista have announced the release of 16 new TRIPLEX PENTHOUSE units in a prime area of the development.

These top quality units are available with both 2 and 3 bedrooms, spacious layout and upmarket features including:

1. Private/gated entry into the Triplex Penthouse garden courtyard with attractive water features.
2. Covered private/numbered parking space with lift to triplex level.
3. Pre-installation for Solarium Jacuzzi, Barbecue and Day bed/lounger.

2 Bedroom 162m² Triplex Penthouse from: £198,000

3 Bedroom 204m² Triplex Penthouse from: £235,000

The British airliner EasyJet has announced its upcoming launch of a direct line London - Marrakech. This is the first ever Moroccan - and indeed African - destination of a European low-fare airliner. The cheap direct link to the central Moroccan city reflects the growing importance of the North African country as a European tourist destination.

EasyJet is one of Europes pioneering airliners on the low fare market, making significant profits while traditional airliners find it difficult to make ends meet. Most expansions headed by EasyJet Chief Executive Andrew Harrison and his celebrated predecessor Ray Webster have proven successful. If EasyJet is to sell cheap tickets from Britain to Morocco, there will be a profitable market.

Flights are to start in July and fares will be as low as EasyJet customers are used to.

With its Moroccan destination, EasyJet is breaking new ground. It is the first time ever that a European low-fare airliner will start flights to an African destination. With Marrakech, EasyJet is however pushing the limits for low-fare flights. Safety regulations prescribing the maximum working hours for captain and crew would force them to spend the night at the destination, thus making the connection more expensive to operate. A possible high frequency of delays could make the new route unsustainable.

Mr Harrison however is confident he has found a Moroccan airport where his airliner can stay on schedule, thus avoiding expensive delays and forced overnight stays. The EasyJet CEO demonstrated great optimism when presenting the new routes. "This is probably our most significant expansion since the start of our new routes to Central and Eastern Europe in May 2004. EasyJet continues to seize opportunities and to stay ahead of the industry - both geographically and technically," he commented.

The economic airliner can count on a rapidly growing stream of European tourist to Morocco; the historic city of Marrakech being one of the favourite destinations. According to Mr Harrison, however, there were more reasons to chose a Moroccan destination. "Croatia, Turkey and Morocco are forging an ever-closer relationship with the UK and Europe. As a consequence, the demand for low-fares to these countries is growing quickly, and EasyJet will be in a unique position to benefit from this development," he told the press today.

While Marrakech is a becoming relatively popular destination, the central Moroccan city however is more famed for one or two-day excursions for travellers wanting to get a first hand impression of Moroccan culture and history. Agadir and developing resorts in northern Morocco are still the prime destinations for tourist. Business travellers, on the other hand, head for Casablanca and Rabat.

EasyJets choice of Marrakech therefore probably was more related to the favourable conditions given by local airport authorities. While EasyJet is the first European low-fare airliner to target Morocco, two Moroccan low-fare airliners already use Marrakech as their basis. Atlas Blue and Regional Air, both subsidiaries of Moroccos national airliner Royal Air Maroc, fly from the favourable Marrakech airport. Regional Air even flies abroad, to the nearby Spanish island of Gran Canaria.

For Moroccos tourism industry - the most promising economic sector in the poor Maghreb country - the arrival of EasyJet nevertheless is good news. The British airliner will open up central Morocco to low budget mass tourism and to the growing number of European weekend trippers. In particular Marrakech could be opened up for new infrastructure investments.

The first flights from Londons Gatwick airport to Marrakech will commence on 4 July. Flights are to be daily, at least in the summer season. The cheapest fares are set at £31 for a one-way trip. Ticket sales start on 3 March on EasyJets website after the principle, "first come, first served". Only the first sold tickets are at the lowest fare, while the last available tickets tend to be very costly.

Moroccos revenue from tourism rose 30 percent last year to reach 53 billion Dirhams (about USD 6.4 billion), Minister of Tourism and Craft Industries Adil Douiri has said.

He told the weekly Cabinet meeting here that the number of tourists registered a 12 percent increase to 6.5 million last year. The Tourism Minister, who was quoted by Communication Minister and Government Spokesman Nabil Benabdellah at a press briefing, also predicted that the accommodation capacity of Morocco would exceed 215,000 beds by 2010.

That is the deadline set by the government for the country to record 10 million tourists according to an ambitious programme launched in recent years under the "Vision 2010" project. Douiri assured that by the year 2010, tourism would contribute 9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide at least 550,000 jobs.

The Vision 2010s main objective is to diversify the tourism product, develop training and partnership in the air transport and other related tourism fields and increase tourism contribution in GDP by 8.5% annually to reach 20% by 2010.

Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, announced this time last year the completion of a five year agreement with the Government of Morocco to develop low cost air access and tourism to the country from Ryanair’s bases throughout Europe. The announcement marks the culmination of discussions between the airline and the Government which have taken place over the last six months and reflects the Moroccan Government’s policy of encouraging significant growth in its tourism industry as well as providing low cost access for its citizens for business and leisure purposes. The agreement covers most of the regional airports in Morocco and involves the commitment by Ryanair to develop up to 20 routes delivering almost 1 million passengers per annum by the end of the five year period.

Announcing the agreement in Rabat today, Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley said:

“We are delighted to make this joint announcement with the Government of Morocco. This represents a singularly important initiative in the development of tourism and business for the country. The Government has recognised that low cost air access is a growth vehicle for tourism throughout Europe and by joining the Open Skies regime and embracing Europe’s leading low fares airline, the Government in Morocco has made a clear statement about its intentions to develop its tourism industry in the next five years.

“Ryanair’s commitment to establish up to 20 routes and carry close to 1 million passengers per annum on flights to Morocco is a vote of confidence by the airline in the excellence and attractiveness of Morocco as a destination both for weekend breaks, mid-week trips and longer holidays. Our low fares will also help ex-patriate Moroccans to see their families more often and facilitate local businesses in accessing markets with low fare routes including those already announced to both Frankfurt and Marseille.

“Ryanair will be making many more new route announcements in Morocco over the coming months and years as we build on the solid basis which this long term agreement provides. I congratulate the Government of Morocco on this initiative and look forward to working successfully with it to develop its tourism and other business�.

Airlines flying between London and Morocco have found themselves in a fares war because of record numbers of flights between the two countries.

Thomsonfly today cut fares to £38 return in response to yesterday’s announcement from Ryanair that it is starting new Morocco flights. “We have slashed our fares to hit back at Ryanair, which will also be flying to Marrakesh out of Luton,� a spokeswoman told Times Online Travel.

The news from Ryanair comes just days after GB Airways signalled its intention to boost Morocco services and two weeks after easyJet launched flights to the North African country.

According to flight information provider, OAG, there were around 39 flights a week between London airports and Marrakesh before easyJet’s launch, - once Ryanair and Thomsonfly get onboard there will be 99 flights a week between the two cities.

Until July this year two airline groups enjoyed a monopoly over flights between the UK and Morocco – British Airways and Royal Air Maroc, with fares averaging more than £200 return.

In 2004 Royal Air Maroc launched a no-frills airline, Atlas Blue, which operates alongside the parent airline - and now BA franchise carrier GB Airways intends to boost flights to a record 32 per week between London and Morocco from the end of October, with services to Marrakesh, Fez, Agadir and Casablanca.

Ryanair’s flights will operate from Luton to Fez and Marrakech from October 31, with fares from £40 return including taxes and charges.

The surge in UK-Morocco flights follows a decision by EU and Moroccan authorities to relax airspace regulations and allow any EU registered airline to operate between the EU and Morocco.