A New Era for Bab Al Marsa: A Culinary Destination
After an extensive modernization process that spanned over two years, the Bab Al Marsa site is set to open its doors this summer, welcoming an initial cohort of 70 restaurateurs trained to meet high standards of tourism quality. This transformative initiative, spearheaded by SDR SMART Tourisme, aims to establish the area as a premier gastronomic destination. The project has seen the mobilization of more than 35 million dirhams for its development under the sixth axis of Agadir's Urban Development Program (PDU) for 2020-2024, marking a significant investment in the region’s culinary landscape.
Following the resolutions from the Steering Committee of the Urban Development Program, which convened on November 1, 2024, the management and administration of the site have been entrusted to SDR SMART Tourisme. For over a year and a half, the organization has been dedicated to supporting and structuring the beneficiaries to transition toward a more professional and high-quality restaurant model, aligning with Agadir’s tourism ambitions. The SDR has been actively working to ensure that the launch of this project occurs under optimal conditions, aiming to break away from past issues related to service quality and operational practices. In line with this transition, the second group of beneficiaries has begun their training, while the first group of around forty individuals has already completed their courses in preparation for this new venture.
Comprehensive Training for Future Restaurateurs
The training program for beneficiaries has been meticulously designed around several key themes, including tourist reception, customer relationship management, food hygiene, restaurant management, communication, and culinary techniques. This operational approach is facilitated by seasoned professionals in the industry, ensuring that participants acquire skills that can be directly applied to their future enterprises. Special emphasis has been placed on enhancing the quality of service, customer experience, food hygiene, and adherence to service standards, addressing the expectations of local residents, tourists, and industry stakeholders alike.
The newly revamped space, with construction having commenced in January 2022 under the management of the Agadir Souss-Massa Development Company (SDL), will initially accommodate 70 restaurateurs and project holders selected through a lottery conducted among previous beneficiaries. Ultimately, an additional 43 project holders will be incorporated through a call for expressions of interest to be issued by the municipality, bringing the total capacity of Bab Al Marsa to 113 establishments.
This vibrant space will feature a variety of culinary specialties and nearby services, including fish restaurants, juice bars, sandwich shops, Moroccan cuisine, salad bars, paella restaurants, grocery stores, and kiosks specializing in local products. Strategically positioned at the entrance of the port, the Bab Al Marsa project is part of a broader initiative to rejuvenate and requalify a historic dining area, with aspirations to create a new hub of life, gastronomy, and tourism activity in the city.
Historically challenged by issues concerning hospitality conditions, service quality, and activity organization, this area is now undergoing a revitalization led by public authorities as part of the PDU of Agadir (2020-2024). The overarching goal is to establish this project as a culinary destination that highlights local flavors and enhances the experience for both residents and visitors, thereby boosting the region's tourist appeal and economic vitality.
Additionally, SDR SMART Tourisme has launched a call for expressions of interest aimed at providing technical and financial support to enhance the restaurants in the bay area. This initiative is a crucial step toward modernizing the commercial interface of Agadir's most frequented seaside area, where many restaurants currently face deterioration. Officially launched on May 5, 2026, with applications commencing on May 9 and closing on June 15, the program aims to identify and pre-select high-potential restaurant projects in the bay, employing a 'first come, first served' principle in the processing of applications.
As reported by leseco.ma.
