Editing Marrakesh (section)

==Economy==
[[File:SOFITEL HOTEL MARRAKECH MOROCCO APRIL 2013 (8709735037).jpg|thumb|right|Sofitel Hotel, April 2013]]
Marrakesh is a vital component of the economy and culture of Morocco.<ref name="BP0906">{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-150780063|title=World Travel: Africa's beating heart; Marrakech, no longer a hippy paradise, is still a vital centre of economy and culture in Morocco.|publisher=[[The Birmingham Post]] |url-access=|date=2 September 2006|access-date=}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref> Improvements to the highways from Marrakesh to Casablanca, Agadir and the local airport have led to a dramatic increase in tourism in the city, which now attracts over two million tourists annually. Because of the importance of tourism to Morocco's economy, [[King Mohammed VI]] vowed in 2012 to double the number of tourists, attracting 20&nbsp;million a year to Morocco by 2020.<ref name="T12">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/columnists/fionaduncan/9364954/The-best-Marrakesh-hotels.html|author=Duncan, Fiona|title=The best Marrakesh hotels|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|access-date=18 October 2012|archive-date=1 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001000310/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/columnists/fionaduncan/9364954/The-best-Marrakesh-hotels.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The city is popular with the French, and many French celebrities have bought property in the city, including fashion moguls [[Yves Saint Laurent (designer)|Yves St Laurent]] and [[Jean-Paul Gaultier]].<ref name="AB0305"/> In the 1990s very few foreigners lived in the city, and real estate developments have dramatically increased in the last 15 years; by 2005 over 3,000 foreigners had purchased properties in the city, lured by its culture and the relatively cheap house prices.<ref name="AB0305">{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-130570413|title=Marrakech is the new Costa del Sol: for a host of Western celebrities, Marrakech in Morocco has become the place to be seen at and increasingly, to live in. Where celebrities go, the lesser folk are bound to follow. The result is that Morocco's economy and its culture is changing—but for the better or for the worse?|publisher=[[African Business]]  |url-access=|date=1 March 2005|access-date=}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref> It has been cited in French weekly magazine ''[[Le Point]]'' as the second [[St Tropez]]: "No longer simply a destination for a scattering of adventurous elites, bohemians or backpackers seeking Arabian Nights fantasies, Marrakech is becoming a desirable stopover for the European jet set."<ref name="AB0305"/> However, despite the tourism boom, the majority of the city's inhabitants are still poor, and {{As of|2010|lc=y}}, some 20,000 households still have no access to water or electricity.<ref name="JA">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAJA2558p052-053.xml0/|title=Fatima Zahra Mansouri, première dame de Marrakech|magazine=[[Jeune Afrique]]|date=25 January 2010|access-date=28 October 2012|language=fr|archive-date=14 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214051421/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAJA2558p052-053.xml0/|url-status=live}}</ref> Many enterprises in the city are facing colossal debt problems.<ref name="JA"/>

After the [[Great Recession]] and the [[2008 financial crisis]], in 2011, investments in real estate progressed substantially both in the area of tourist accommodation and social housing. The main developments have been in facilities for tourists including hotels and leisure centres such as golf courses and health spas, with investments of 10.9&nbsp;billion dirham (US$1.28&nbsp;billion) in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiepresse.com/la-reprise-de-la-croissance-du-secteur-immobilier-a-marrakech/|title=La reprise de la croissance du secteur immobilier à Marrakech|date=28 February 2012|language=fr|access-date=17 October 2012|publisher=Regiepresse.co|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911052443/http://www.regiepresse.com/la-reprise-de-la-croissance-du-secteur-immobilier-a-marrakech/|archive-date=11 September 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/marrakech-morocco-sees-hotel-boom_n_1664409.html|title=Marrakech, Morocco Sees Hotel Boom|date=19 July 2012|access-date=17 October 2012|work=Huffington Post|archive-date=28 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228113841/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/marrakech-morocco-sees-hotel-boom_n_1664409.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The hotel infrastructure in recent years has experienced rapid growth. In 2012, alone, 19 new hotels were scheduled to open, a development boom often compared to [[Dubai]].<ref name="T12"/> [[Royal Ranches Marrakech]], one of [[Gulf Finance House]]'s flagship projects in Morocco, is a {{Convert|380|ha}} resort under development in the suburbs and one of the world's first five star Equestrian Resorts.<ref name="MR1008">{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-186249027.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525140007/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-186249027.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2013|title=Royal Ranches Marrakech' closes land sale with Equine Management Services|publisher=[[Mena Report]] |date=2 October 2008|access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> The resort is expected to make a significant contribution to the local and national economy, creating many jobs and attracting thousands of visitors annually; as of April 2012 it was about 45% complete.<ref name="MR0410">{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-286269661.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525092337/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-286269661.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2013|title=Bahrain: Royal Ranches Marrakech inks MoU with BMCE.(Memorandum of Understanding )(Banque Marocaine de Commerce Exteriur)|publisher=[[Mena Report]]|date=13 April 2012|access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>
The Avenue Mohammed VI, formerly Avenue de France, is a major city thoroughfare. It has seen rapid development of residential complexes and many luxury hotels. Avenue Mohammed VI contains what is claimed to be Africa's largest [[nightclub]]:{{sfn|Humphrys|2010|p=9}} [[Pacha Marrakech]], a trendy club that plays [[house music|house]] and [[electro house]] music.<ref name="Misc. 2008">{{cite book|author=Misc.|title=Cool Restaurants Top of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6pSoXlsM8_sC&pg=PA274|access-date=8 October 2012|date=1 June 2008|publisher=teNeues|isbn=978-3-8327-9233-6|page=274|archive-date=25 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525222840/http://books.google.com/books?id=6pSoXlsM8_sC&pg=PA274|url-status=live}}</ref> It also has two large cinema complexes, Le Colisée à Gueliz and Cinéma Rif, and a new shopping precinct, Al Mazar.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnPJ8_eOp4QC&pg=PA146 |title=Time Out Marrakech: Essaouira and the High Atlas |publisher=Time Out Guides |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84670-019-4 |pages=146 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Menara Mall.JPG|thumb|[[Menara Mall]], opened in 2015]]
Trade and crafts are extremely important to the local tourism-fueled economy. There are 18 ''souks'' in Marrakesh, employing over 40,000 people in pottery, copperware, leather and other crafts. The ''souks'' contain a massive range of items from plastic sandals to Palestinian-style scarves imported from India or China. Local boutiques are adept at making western-style clothes using Moroccan materials.<ref name="AB0305"/> The ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' comments: "The ''souk'' offers an incredible shopping experience with a myriad of narrow winding streets that lead through a series of smaller markets clustered by trade. Through the squawking chaos of the poultry market, the gory fascination of the open-air butchers' shops and the uncountable number of small and specialist traders, just wandering around the streets can pass an entire day."<ref name="BP0906"/> Marrakesh has several supermarkets including [[Marjane Acima]], [[Asswak Salam]] and [[Carrefour]], and three major shopping centres, Al Mazar Mall, Plaza Marrakech and Marjane Square; a branch of Carrefour opened in Al Mazar Mall in 2010.{{sfn|Humphrys|2010|p=161}}<ref name="Group">{{cite book|title=The Report: Morocco 2011|year=2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncqqQra-2ToC&pg=PA100|access-date=9 October 2012|publisher=Oxford Business Group|isbn=978-1-907065-30-9|page=100|archive-date=26 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626185529/http://books.google.com/books?id=ncqqQra-2ToC&pg=PA100|url-status=live}}</ref> Industrial production in the city is centred in the neighbourhood of Sidi Ghanem Al Massar, containing large factories, workshops, storage depots and showrooms. Ciments Morocco, a subsidiary of a major Italian cement firm, has a factory in Marrakech.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cimentsdumaroc.com/FR/Nos+usines+et+centres/Marrakech.htm|title=Nos usines et centres L'usine de Marrakech|publisher=Ciments du Maroc|language=fr|access-date=18 October 2012|archive-date=1 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201154459/http://www.cimentsdumaroc.com/FR/Nos+usines+et+centres/Marrakech.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Marrakesh is one of North Africa's largest centers of wildlife trade, despite the illegality of most of this trade.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bergin|first1=Daniel|last2=Nijman|first2=Vincent|date=2014-11-01|title=Open, Unregulated Trade in Wildlife in Morocco's Markets|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267748463|journal=ResearchGate|volume=26|issue=2|access-date=2017-01-11|archive-date=2018-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133219/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267748463|url-status=live}}</ref> Much of this trade can be found in the medina and adjacent squares. Tortoises are particularly popular for sale as pets, and Barbary macaques and snakes can also be seen.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Nijman|first1=Vincent|last2=Bergin|first2=Daniel|last3=Lavieren|first3=Els van|date=2015-07-01|title=Barbary macaques exploited as photo-props in Marrakesh's punishment square|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280111452|journal=ResearchGate|volume=Jul-Sep|access-date=2017-01-11|archive-date=2018-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133214/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280111452|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nijman, V. and Bergin, D.|date=2017|title=Trade in spur-Thighed tortoises Testudo graeca in Morocco: Volumes, value and variation between markets|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318456632|journal=Amphibia-Reptilia|volume=38|issue=3|pages=275–287|doi=10.1163/15685381-00003109|access-date=2019-04-23|archive-date=2021-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093404/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318456632_Trade_in_spur-Thighed_tortoises_Testudo_graeca_in_Morocco_Volumes_value_and_variation_between_markets|url-status=live}}</ref> The majority of these animals suffer from poor welfare conditions in these stalls.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bergin, D. and Nijman, V.|title=An Assessment of Welfare Conditions in Wildlife Markets across Morocco|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327002300|journal=Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science|year=2019|volume=22|issue=3|pages=279–288|doi=10.1080/10888705.2018.1492408|pmid=30102072|s2cid=51967901|access-date=2019-04-23|archive-date=2021-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107093405/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327002300_An_Assessment_of_Welfare_Conditions_in_Wildlife_Markets_across_Morocco|url-status=live}}</ref>